From the 12th to the 14th of July 1945, a record amount of snow fell in Canterbury. In Christchurch alone had between 20 cm to 40 cm of snow across the city whereas some areas of the Canterbury Plains had over 60 cm. Electricity was cut off for a week in some areas and schools were closed. The farmers on the Canterbury Plains experienced stock losses and property damage, one of whom lost 40 sheep in one day.
Throughout the negatives of the snowstorm the people of Canterbury came together and made the best of it with some even venturing outside to play in the snow.
On the Canterbury Stories website, we are lucky to have numerous photographs depicting scenes and people during the 1945 snowstorm.
Do you have any photographs from the 1945 snowstorm or other weather events? You can contribute to our collection via the Discovery Wall website.
References
- NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue. 1945. July 1945 Canterbury Snow and High Winds. - NIWA
- Press. 1945. Snow on City Streets - Papers Past
- Press. 1945. Fall in North Canterbury - Papers Past
- Press. 1945. Losses Feared in Country - Papers Past
- Press. 1945. Christchurch Under Snow - Papers Past
- Press. 1945. Losses of Sheep Through Snow - Papers Past
- Press. 1945. Snow Damage to Orchards - Papers Past
- Press. 1945. Record Fall at Lyttelton - Papers Past
- Press. 1945. Repair of Snow Damage - Papers Past
- Press. 1945. Damage to City Streets - Papers Past
- Press. 1945. Restoration of Snow Damage - Papers Past
- Press. 1945. The Snowfall - Papers Past
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