WEATHER MARS WEEK-END

Southland Times, Issue 24884, 26 October 1942, Page 4

WEATHER MARS WEEK-END

RAIN AND SLEET IN SOUTHLAND

After a comparatively mild period, the weather changed abruptly and wintry conditions prevailed in Southland on Saturday. Sleet and heavy rain fell throughout the province and an intensely cold easterly wind blew during Saturday in Invercargill. On Sunday the wind changed to the south-east in Invercargill and an appreciable improvement in the weather occurred. Last night the sky was heavily overcast, but the wind had almost completely dropped. Snow fell to a depth of several inches in the back country. The Longwoods were coated and snow covered the foothills at Orawia. Snow fell in districts from Tuatapere, Otautau and Dipton, but although it was showery and cold on Sunday the weather had improved. Heavy sleet and rain made conditions at the Gore races highly unpleasant. There was a heavy fall of snow in Central Otago, there being about six inches at Wanaka and the surrounding districts. The weather in Dunedin was also cold and wet, conditions which caused the postponement of several sporting fixtures. A good fall of snow occurred at Ohai and passengers from Lumsden had a cold trip. The carriages were still carrying a coating of snow when they reached Invercargill. In spite of the severe weather stock losses in Southland are not expected to be heavy. The weather was insufficient to dampen the enthusiasm of holidaymakers and there was heavy passenger traffic to and from the city. Buses and trains from the Western districts were filled and the special train, which left Invercargill on Saturday morning was an unusually heavy one. Eastern Southland experienced a fall of snow on Saturday morning and the temperatures during Saturday were very cold. The Hokonui hills at the back of Gore were well coated, while at the east of the town there was also a coating of snow on the hills. In the Riversdale district the ground carried a coating of snow on Saturday morning, but it soon disappeared. OF RAIL TRAFFIC (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, October 24. One of the most serious dislocations to rail traffic for some years occurred at Rakaia today when flood waters, sweeping across the northern approach to the railway bridge, caused considerable damage through scouring. No trains crossed the bridge up till early this afternoon. Road traffic was also interrupted but the delay was not as serious as that on the railway bridge. It is possible to tow vehicles through the water on the road and rail passengers were transhipped by motor vehicles over the affected portion. At midday today four chains of the approach at the railway bridge were scoured out and although a gang was working to repair the line there was little that could be done as the water was still high and there was' then no indication when trains would be able to pass over the line. Heavy flooding resulted throughout Westland following heavy rains in the past two days. The most serious damage reported is in the washing away of two spans of the big Wanganui River bridge north of North Harihari. Lowlying portions of Hokitika are covered with flood waters, but no material damage'is reported. THREAT TO HOLIDAY (P.A.) AUCKLAND, October 24. A northerly gale, which threatened to spoil the Labour Day week-end, blew throughout the night, but had passed over by mid-forenoon and was succeeded by bright holiday weather. There was torrential rain between four and eight o’clock, over an inch of rain falling in that period. The gale caused damage to gardens and orchards.