SEVERE SNOWSTORM

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 52, 17 March 1937, Page 7

SEVERE SNOWSTORM

(Btitish Official Wireleis.)

Drifts the Deepest in Britain for Years THAW BRINGS FL00DS

I RUGBY, March 15. 1 Practically the whole of Scotinnd, ,lreland, Wales, and the northern part of jEngland has experienced during the last Ifew days the severest snowatorms for ;many years. Not within living memory - !has snow covered so deeply such a large area of the British Isles. During the week-ond a thaw began in jlreland and resulted in severe flooding, but in Scotland and northern England further snowstorms occurred and many i roads and Tailway tracks are buried | beneath huge drifts, many country vil- | lages and farmsteads being completely [ isolated. Parmers in particular have I suifered heavy losses, as the severe ; weather has come just as the lambing season is due to begin and many tkoue-J ands of sheep are lost. ! ' In northern .England and southern j Scotland there is now some improvement in road conditions, and the usual main thoroughfare to Scotland from the south is now open for single traffic. In Belfast three large halls belonging to the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society were praetieally destroyed when the weight of snow caused a eoJ.lapse of the roofs, the damage being estimated at £12,000. London and sopthern England eacaped snow, but yesterday heavy rain fell continuously. The Thames is again rising, and the Twiekenham f'erry boat had to cross the maia road beside the civer before it could land passengers. London to-day is experiencing bfight junshine with cold winds. This year's rainfall has broken all records, and the total for January and Pebruary was the greatest for 67 years. Extremely arduous conditions have been experienced by shipping during the last few days.