First Falls of Snow in Southland

Chronicle (Levin), 14 June 1949, Page 3

First Falls of Snow in Southland

— , INVERCARGILL, June 13. ( Snow is reported over a. wide area in Southland. Snow began to fall eariy this morning and this afternoon it la'y to a depth of six inches in'some districts. Within one and half hours more than two inches of snow ,f ell in the area around Lumsden,- making the roads "slippery and dangerous. The. area affected by the snow stretehes. from Chai up to Arrowtown. Although in. some districts the falls have varied in inteusity, at noon about three inches covered the groilhd at Ohai with a heavv coatine on the hills and

mountains. Nightcaps was 4not aifectcP to the same extent although snow had falien steadily since nine o'cloelc. Snow fell during the night at Queenstown but the coveriiig on the flat was ligltt. The top of Ben Lomond was edged with white. Walter Peak and Cecil' Peak also showed evidence of falls. The high country. about Queenstown received a fairly heavy coat of snoAV and Arrowtown awoke to find twq^ or three inches on the flat. Cromwell has escaped the falls which have so. far been conlined to the high levels. Both highways to Kingston and Te Anau have 'been liberallv coated and the Automobile Assoeiation (Southland) advises that chains are

necessary. Within one and half hours over two inches of snow were recorded an-: buses, had difficulty in forcing a wa-y rough. Although no snow has fallen in Invercargill, temperatures have been iow with bleak conditions prevailing. Heavy rain fell in the city yesterday and in 2-1 hours neariy an inch was reconled.