HEAVY SNOW IN COUNTRY

Southland Times, Issue 24439, 20 May 1941, Page 4

HEAVY SNOW IN COUNTRY

WINTRY WEATHER IN SOUTHLAND

SHOWERS OF SLEET IN INVERCARGILL Wintry weather and extremely cold temperatures were experienced throughout the greater part of Southland yesterday after periodical showers of snow and sleet. Showers of sleet, accompanied by a keen south-west wind, were experienced in Invercargill. The first signs of snow appeared on Sunday night and when residents arose yesterday they found the ground completely covered. The day was particularly cold and those whose work took them out-of-doors were wrapped in their warmest clothes as a protection from the chilly atmosphere. Most of the country districts experienced heavy falls of snow during the latter part of the week-end, and in many districts several inches of snow were lying yesterday. HEAVY SNOW AT GORE

Heavy falls of snow were experienced at Gore and throughout Eastern Southland yesterday. The first flakes began to fall at Gore shortly after nightfall on Sunday and early yesterday morning a steady fall began, the ground being covered to a depth of about two inches at 8 a.m. The weather cleared for a short period about 11 a.m., but several heavy falls were experienced during the afternoon. The fall was not so heavy in some of the country districts, but indications last night were that heavier falls would occur. There was only a light fall at Waikaia yesterday morning, but a heavy fall began about 4 o’clock in the afternoon and it appeared that the storm had set in for the night. At Lumsden one and a-half inches of snow covered the ground yesterday morning. The fall was heavier at Riversdale and Mandeville, while right up the Waikaka Valley about two inches of snow fell. In the Tapanui and Crookston districts the fall was more severe, there being about four inches in the Tapanui township yesterday morning. All the main roads were clear yesterday, but chains were necessary in many places. A woman motorist travelling on the main road to Central Otago experienced difficulty yesterday morning, her car becoming stuck on a hill about 16 miles from Tapanui. She was pulled out by a lorry and she was able to proceed to Gore without furthermishap.

In the Ferndale district there were about four inches of snow yesterday morning and there were further falls during the day.

ROADS BLOCKED The Automobile Association (Southland) reported yesterday that conditions on the main road between Gore and Waipahi were such that motorists could not get through without chains. Conditions were deteriorating. Mt. Cargill was also impassable without chains. The road between Heriot and Rae’s Junction was impassable. Roads were clear in other districts, but it was possible that conditions would deteriorate. The Gore branch of the Automobile Association reported last night that the Gore-Waikaka road via Chatton was blocked by deep drifts. The patrol officer (Mr H. A. McColl) had the misfortune to run his car into a drift of about five feet of snow at the top of the Chatton hill and he had to dig it out. While doing so another motorist ran into the same drift and his car also had to be dug out. The association also reported that the WaikoikoiTapanui road was blocked last night by deep snow and that the PukerauBenio road was blocked. The snow is deep in these localities.

At the Homer Tunnel there were about 10 inches of snow yesterday and last night it was reported that snow was still falling. There was three inches of snow at Cascade Creek and a light fall was experienced at Te Anau. Snow also fell at Queenstown, although it was not very heavy, little snow lying on the ground. The prospects yesterday were that there would be more snow in the district.

SNOW AT LUMSDEN Snow and sleet fell in Lumsden early yesterday morning and between 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. snow fell thickly, covering the flat to a depth of about an inch and a-half. It continued until about 11 o’clock, when the weather cleared. There was little snow lying on the flat at midday and the sun shone brilliantly during the afternoon. Further snow was experienced at 4 p.m., however, and continued fairly heavily during the early evening. At 9 p.m. there were about three inches of snow on the ground with prospects of further heavy falls before the morning. Spasmodic snow showers were experienced in Tuatapere yesterday and snow was reported to be falling at a late hour last night. Snow fell in the Centre Bush district, the first shower being experienced I about 7 p.m. on Sunday. At Winton about three inches of snow were lying on the ground yesterday morning. The weather continued to be bitterly cold at Bluff yesterday. Although there were only slight falls of snow, there were many heavy showers of hail. Yesterday the wind had veered around to the south and there was no sign of improvement in the weather. Telegraph communication with Dunedin was interrupted last night because of a defect near Milton, but otherwise there appears to have been little interruption with the ordinary services. Little or no snow was experienced in Invercargill last night. At a late hour the weather showed signs of improving, and the wind had abated considerably, although the temperature was cold. The barometer was rising.

FIRST SNOWFALL IN DUNEDIN

DIFFICULT CONDITIONS FOR ROAD TRAFFIC

(Special) DUNEDIN, May 19. Dunedin had its first taste of real winter late on Sunday night and today, when the first snowfalls of the year were experienced. The first falls were comparatively light, but early this morning conditions deteriorated rapidly and by daylight the hills surrounding the city were coated with snow and some of the main roads over the hills were in such a condition that motorists were compelled to exercise the greatest care in negotiating them.

The first reports from surrounding districts indicated that the early falls were mainly coastal and little, if any, snow had fallen in Central Otago, but as the day progressed it became evident that a snowstorm of considerable proportions was moving up from the south and tonight snow fell almost continuously in the city. The hill suburbs of Dunedin this morning bore a fairly thick coating of snow, and some of the steeper streets presented hazardous conditions for motorists. At one stage several of the city transport buses serving these parts of the city were unable to operate on the slippery roads until they had been equipped with chains, and for a space of about one

hour, from 8.30 a.m. to 9.30 a.m., residents in the hill suburbs had to proceed to the city on foot. Conditions became steadily worse tonight and several of the buses had the greatest difficulty in negotiating the steeper grades with the result that until specially-geared buses were placed on the routes there was some dislocation of the service. On Mount Cargill the frozen surface of the main north road trapped a number of motorists who had not taken the precaution of equipping their cars with chains, and although screenings were spread during the morning the use of chains continued to be imperative. With continued snowfalls tonight, however, conditions became progressively worse over this section.

South of Dunedin snow fell practically throughout the day and the main south road had a liberal coating which became heavier towards Gore. The Middlemarch road was in a bad condition this morning and successive falls during the day made the route impassable, heavy drifts forming at Clark’s Junction and Lee stream. Heavy patches also formed on the road through Manuka Gorge on the Lawrence route and between Lawrence and Waitahuna and Lawrence and Waipahi the roads were reported tonight to be blocked. Better conditions were reported from Central Otago, where the snowfall was confined mainly to the hill tops. At Alexandra and Roxburgh the roads were stated to be unaffected and the sky clear.