COLD SNAP

Southland Times, Issue 25310, 13 June 1935, Page 8

COLD SNAP

NO IMPROVEMENT ROAD TRAFFIC IMPEDED SNOW MORE GENERAL “X Bright sunshine and clear skies in the city yesterday morning raised the hopes of many people that the weather was about to improve, but the afternoon saw a repetition of the hail ana sleet which have prevailed since the week-end. The snow area has now moved further inland and deep drifts have rendered a few of the roads imPa j t M j s now generally acknowledged that this is the severest cold snap experienced in Invercargill for many years. Indications are for a thaw today, and this would be mo§t welcome to motorists, who are finding the halffrozen snow on the roads very dangerous. Rain was falling in Invercargill shortly before midnight last night. Heavy falls of snow are reported from the high country, the depth in parts of the Mossburn district, being fully 10 inches. The mail car and two lorries were stated to have got through yesterday and so far there is not much fear of stock losses. If there is not a thaw shortly, however, .it may be many weeks before the snow clears there. Reporting on the position the Motor Association states that on the Dunedin main highway there was about five inches of snow at Waipahi and Clinton yesterday. Despite the difficult conditions traffic had not been held up. There was five inches of snow at Riversdale. Eastern Southland.

Eastern Southland received its full share of the snow storm on Tuesday night and a covering of about six inches lay over the whole district yesterday. Further showers occurred during the day, but conditions were improved towards evening. All roads in the district were negotiable, but motorists found it necessary to exercise care in avoiding drifts. Tuesday evening was the roughest night that has been experienced at Winton for some time, snow and sleet falling. Yesterday morning there was approximately four inches of snow covering the countryside, while light snow showers fell throughout the day. On Tuesday evening the electric power supply was affected, and the lights failed on several occasions. Conditions appeared to clear early yesterday afternoon, but at four o’clock snow was falling steadily. Stewart Island has also been experiencing rough and miserable weatner during the week. Low temperatures ruled over the week-end and on Sunday morning the ground had a light covering of snow. Monday was windy and there was a violent electrical storm which appeared to pass almost directly overhead. The lightning was most vivid and the thunder was so close that houses shook and windows rattled. On Tuesday there was a further covering of snow on the ground, and throughout the day snow fell intermittently, but there were no very heavy falls. . f 11 At Nightcaps there was a heavy fall of snow over Tuesday night, there being a depth of nine inches yesterday morning. Motor traffic, which is particularly heavy in the district at present, was impeded between Nightcaps and Ohai, though no major stoppages were reported. There were intermittent falls throughout yesterday, but at eight o’clock last evening it appeared as if the night would be clear. The heaviest and most consistent fall of snow experienced in the district for many years commenced at Kennington on Saturday night and by daylight the next morning the ground was covered to a depth of four or five inches. Towards evening- snow and sleet fellagain. Monday was fairly clear and in the afternoon a warm wind swept the paddocks clear. The next day, however, proved as bad as ever and during Tuesday night heavy falls of snow and hail were experienced and froze towards morning, making the road surface slippery. It has been necessary to give'feed to all stock. This extra feeding will be felt by those whose turnip crops are not of the best, as it will probably be necessary to ration the stock later on. There are many partial failures of the turnip crop, but the chou moellier seems to have done ‘better this year.. For a good crop of turnips up to £lO an acre is being offered.