Low level snow fall

Ruapehu Bulletin, 27 June 1989, Page 1

Low level snow fall

This year's second snowfall, on the shortest day, Wednesday June 21, wasn't nearly as welcome as the first with the travel plans of many people disrupted by the weather.

Playing in the snow was mostly restricted to the young with adults less impressed, though photographers still enjoyed the scenes. Less snow fell than the earlier fall but ice caused problems on a number of roads. The Desert Road closed early, followed by the roads between Taihape and Waiouru, Waiouru and Ohakune and between Ohakune and National Park, blocking off all routes north. An unusual sight greeted Ohakune residents on Wednesday

morning - 10 to 15 articulated truck and trailer units lined the main street waiting for the roads to clear. Some long time residents said they had never seen trucks lining the main street before, even in earlier years when down-town snowfalls were a regular occurrence. One observer suggested this would be because of the deregulation of road transport several years ago which opened the way for more heavy truck use on long hauls.

Snow fell for the first time since the 1960s at the Ruatiti Domain, according to resident Mrs Gretchen Littlewood. Mrs Gray of Ruatiti said about an inch (2.4 centimetres) was lying

on the ground on Wednesday. Reports were also received of snow falling at Pipiriki. Snow covered the Parapara Highway down past the Ruakawa Falls

shop on Wednesday morning but was gone by lunchtime. Ice and snow kept the Desert Road closed until midday Thursday and Turnpage3

Snow falls

Frompagel on Friday motorists were still being warned to take care on the highway. Turoa Skifields reported falls of about 10cm of snow - not enough to open the skifield but they were hopeful of more over last weekend. However

warm weather with rain arrived and most of the Ruapehu snow from last week was washed away. Beginners' tows were to open on Saturday morning to take advantage of the snow around the base of the field and the Park Lane Chairlift was to operate for sightseers.