FIRST FALL OF SNOW

Southland Times, Issue 22957, 1 August 1936, Page 6

FIRST FALL OF SNOW

A Mild Winter Broken WHITE MANTLE OVER INVERCARGILL OTAGO AND CANTERBURY ALSO AFFECTED A previously mild winter was broken in Southland yesterday, snow falling in several parts of the province. In Invercargill the portents of cold temperatures on the previous day were realized when light falls of snow in the morning were followed by a steady fall, lasting nearly two hours, in the early evening. The snow of the . morning was displaced by fitful sunshine, but in the evening Invercargill was shrouded in white. Two to three inches of snow was lying on the ground in Lumsden last evening. Falls began there at 4 a.m. and continued at intervals throughout the day. At 9 p.m. it had stopped snowing, but was freezing hard. About seven inches of snow had fallen at Saddle Hill—near Lake Te Anau—but there had been little, if any, snow at the Hollyford. A light fall at Otautau at 6 p.m. was followed an hour later by a brief snowstorm which covered the ground to a depth of an inch. At 9.30 p.m. the weather had cleared, though it was j then freezing. The weather at Winton was cold and wet throughout the day. Snow fell at intervals, but there was only a quarter of an inch on the ground. Here again it was freezing hard at a late hour last night. Gore shared in the visitation. Following a sharp frost on Thursday, snow began to fall early yesterday morning. Intermittent snowfalls occurred during the rest of the day, but towards evening the sky cleared and the snow on the ground, which was of no considerable depth, froze. Several further light snowfalls occurred during the evening. Tire prospects, however, were for a hard frost. THE ROAD TO DUNEDIN NEED FOR CAREFUL DRIVING. The Automobile Association (Southland) was advised by an official, who journeyed from Invercargill to Dunedin by car last evening that the roads were passable. Motorists, _ however, would need to exercise caution as the roads were covered practically all the way by a thin —but treacherous coating of frozen snow. Provided there was not a heavy fall of snow motorists should have no difficulty of getting through to Dunedin. This report was received at midnight. Two Southland motorists who went to Dunedin yesterday afternoon telegraphed to The Southland Times last evening that the road was in good order to Waipahi. There was a slight coating of snow from there to Clinton, but from there to Dunedin the road was clear. The telegram was handed in at Dunedin at 7.35 p.m., since when a fair amount of snow has fallen. WINTRY CONDITIONS SNOW AND SQUALLS IN DUNEDIN. (United Press Association.) Dunedin, July 31. After a short respite from heavy rain which fell during the latter part of last week, Otago was again visited by wintry conditions to-day when sleet, snow and hail storms swept over the province throughout the day. Shortly after daybreak light snow commenced to fall and shortly afterwards hail and sleet squalls, driven by a hard southerly wind made out of door conditions extremely unpleasant. The hills round Dunedin were soon covered with snow, making conditions ' hazardous for motor traffic although the fall was not of sufficient depth to prevent passage on the main roads. There was no disorganization of rail traffic which ran according to schedule and although the slippery nature of the road surfaces in and around the city presented some difficulty to motor drivers, only one serious accident was reported during the day, that being on the Kilmog Hill where a collision between a motor car and a lorry led to the death of the car driver. SNOW IN OAMARU 4 HEAVIEST FALL OF YEAR. (United Press Association.) Oamaru, July 31. Following on several days of rain, Oamaru to-day experienced the heaviest fall of snow in the year. Snow and sleet fell intermittently throughout the day, but late in the afternoon the fall became heavy. At nightfall the town was covered with a white mantle of a couple of inches of snow. SNOW IN CHRISTCHURCH THREAT OF FLOODING. ■ (United Press Association.) Christchurch, July 31. Snow fell in the city to-day for the first time this winter. During the last fortnight there has been an unbroken succession of south-west storms with driving, though rarely heavy rain. Today the temperature was bitterly cold and in the evening light snow fell. The fall has been much heavier in the back country. The rainfall figures for the year in Christchurch may yet break records. The normal rainfall is 29.94 inches. This figure has not been reached for several years, but already this year the fall is 22.96 inches. The whole country is deeply saturated, retarding the tillage of arable land. The wheat acreage is likely to be lower than usual in consequence. The only damage threatening was from flooding. The Lake Forsyth level has been rising but the outlet from the lake to the sea was opened to-day. Unless a southerly sea closes it too soon, the level of the lake will quickly fall. Flooding had caused little damage except the submersion of some marginal grazing land. Water lay on spots of the Little River road, but was not sufficiently deep to stop traffic. HEAVY FALL AT TIMARU BITTERLY COLD WEATHER. (United Press Association.) Timaru, July 31. Timaru to-night is experiencing the heaviest fall of snow for some years. The weather was bitterly cold all day and late in the afternoon snow commenced to fall. Later in the evening the fall was fairly heavy, the streets being covered in some places. The fall was over an inch. At Pleasant Point three inches fell while at Waihaorunga Valley the fall was in the vicinity of a foot.