COLD STORMS IN THREE AUSTRALIAN STATES

Wanganui Chronicle, 5 November 1949, Page 5

COLD STORMS IN THREE

AUSTRALIAN STATES

SYDNEY, Nov. 4—Following violent winds which swept New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia yesterday. unusually cold conditions have brought rain, hail, and unseasonable snow to many places in the three States.

The weather bureau says that the conditions are caused by a very strong anti-cyclone which developed in the Australian Bight as a result of a powerful stream of air in sub-polar regions.

Storm warnings have been issued to shipping, and graziers have been told that colder conditions are developing. The lowest November temperature for 25 years was recorded in Adelaide, where the minimum reading was 42 degrees. Snow fell on the mountains. In Victoria snow is falling at many points, including Ballarat and Bendigo. Melbourne recorded 46.6 degrees. In New South Wales snow fell at Mount Kosciusko, Canberra, Kiandra, Adaminaby, and Nimmitabel. and there were lighter falls elsewhere. The Bar won River at Walgett is several feet above flood level, although no rain has fallen in the area for a fortnight. The forecast is for strong southerly winds, cool temperatures, and probably snow on lhe Alps. At Crow’s Nest yesterday firemen chose the wrong time to test their 85ft. extension ladder. The wind caught it. when fully extended and broke it into three pieces, as the firemen scrambled to safety. In a city store windows were blown in. At. Waterloo a squall caught a bath-heater flame and set the wall on lire, and the blaze swept through the backs of three cottages. At St. Mary's a cow was struck dead by lightning.

The temperature in Canberra dropped sharply to 38 degrees.