NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
April 2014 New Zealand Storm ( 2014-04-17 )
Ex-tropical cyclone Ita lay to the west of the North Island bringing heavy rain and strong winds. It moved southwards during the period 17-19 April. The very strong winds caused lots of damage, and brought down power lines, cutting the power supply to thousands of homes. Heavy rain also caused flooding. The worst affected area was the West Coast of the South Island.
New Zealand
Multi Hazard
at
New Zealand
Duration: 3 days - The storm lasted from 17 to 19 April 2014.
Insurance claims totalled $55.3 million. Most of the damage was to houses and contents ($25million). Damage to commercial property was close to $16 million, and motor vehicles $2.7 million
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 9:09am 17-Apr-2014: Includes HEAVY RAIN AND STRONG WINDS FORECAST FOR MANY PARTS OF NORTHERN AND CENTRAL NEW ZEALAND
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 3:16pm 17-Apr-2014: Includes HEAVY RAIN AND STRONG WINDS FORECAST FOR MANY PARTS OF CENTRAL NEW ZEALAND
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 8:52pm 17-Apr-2014: Includes HEAVY RAIN AND STRONG WINDS ABOUT CENTRAL NEW ZEALAND EASING TONIGHT OR FRIDAY
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 10:38am 18-Apr-2014: Includes HEAVY RAIN TODAY FOR NELSON, NORTHERN MARLBOROUGH, CANTERBURY, NORTH OTAGO AND DUNEDIN. HEAVY RAIN ON SATURDAY FOR WESTLAND.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 4:46pm 18-Apr-2014: Includes HEAVY RAIN FOR NELSON AND NORTHERN MARLBOROUGH UNTIL EARLY SATURDAY AND FOR WESTLAND DURING SATURDAY AND POSSIBLY INTO SUNDAY. THE RAIN HAS EASED OVER CANTERBURY AND EASTERN OTAGO AND THE WARNING FOR THESE AREAS IS LIFTED.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 8:05pm 18-Apr-2014: Includes HEAVY RAIN ABOUT NELSON AND NORTHERN MARLBOROUGH EASING FROM THE WEST OVERNIGHT FRIDAY AND EARLY SATURDAY. HEAVY RAIN FOR WESTLAND DURING SATURDAY AND POSSIBLY INTO SUNDAY.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 7:54am 19-Apr-2014: Includes HEAVY RAIN TODAY FOR THE RANGES OF WESTLAND
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 7:42pm 19-Apr-2014: Includes HEAVY RAIN ABOUT THE RANGES OF WESTLAND EASING OVERNIGHT SATURDAY
West Coast
High Wind / Gust
at
West Coast
The entire Buller Electricity network, which serviced 4500 customers from Punakaiki to Karamea, was without power after fallen trees caused significant damage to power lines.
High Wind / Gust
at
Westport
The strongest gust recorded at Westport was 130 km/h. The Westport Volunteer Fire Brigade had 145 call-outs in the first 48 hours of the storm
High Wind / Gust
at
Greymouth
60 Greymouth houses lost their roofs - and some lost the trusses as well. At least nine houses were probably write-offs. The Greymouth Volunteer Fire Brigade had between 85 and 100 call-outs in the first 48 hours of the storm. The Blaketown Band Hall was completely destroyed. A hangar was destroyed at the Greymouth aerodrome, completely wrecking one plane, and substantially damaging another three planes.
High Wind / Gust
at
Whataroa
The winds blew a campervan clean over a fence at Whataroa.
Multi Hazard
at
Springs Junction
Fifty vehicles, including campervans and trucks, spent the night stranded at Springs Junction after State Highway 7 - Lewis Pass - to Greymouth was closed.
Tasman-Nelson
Landslide
at
Tasman
Several main roads were closed due to slips and washouts.
Flooding
at
Takaka Hill
State Highway 60 over the Takaka Hill was closed due to flooding.
High Wind / Gust
at
Nelson
Eight intensive care unit (ICU) patients and staff had to be evacuated to the recovery ward of Nelson Hospital as a massive 12 x 6m section of the roof hung precariously over the department.
Marlborough
Multi Hazard
at
Marlborough
Heavy rain caused flooding, land slips and pot holes across the district's roads. Teams of around 40 staff were on call to carry out road repairs. The worst damage to roads was in the Awatere Valley.
Heavy Rain
at
Picton
146 millimetres of rain fell in Picton and Waikawa in 24 hours.
Landslide
at
Kaikoura
State Highway 1 was closed at Kaikoura after major slips threw boulders and debris onto the road. There were 24 slips and partial road blockages between Kaikoura and Piction. The Coastal Pacific train track was also closed.
Canterbury
Multi Hazard
at
Christchurch
The storm caused flooding, land slips, road blockages and power outages around the city.
Landslide
at
Akaroa
The main road to Akaroa from Little River was impassable due to slips.
Otago
Flooding
at
Otago
Welfare centres were set up in four North Otago towns along State Highway 1 to provide accommodation and food for motorists trapped by flood waters.
Flooding
at
Maheno
The Kakanui River burst its banks, forcing authorities to close SH1 at Maheno
Flooding
at
Five Forks
A woman was rescued from the roof of her car after the raging Kakanui River floodwaters swept her vehicle off the road at Five Forks. She had to smash a window to escape as water filled the car.
Auckland
Multi Hazard
at
Auckland
Parts of west Auckland and the North Shore were without hot water for four days after power lines were brought down by the strong winds. Some hot water pilots - which supply electricity to hot water cylinders, independently of the
main power supply - were not reconnected, even after power was restored.
Heavy rain caused extensive flooding on Tamaki Drive.
Waikato
Multi Hazard
at
Waikato
Wind gusts of around 100km/h and bouts of torrential rain left farm paddocks strewn with debris, knocked down fences and re-routed streams as the
storm swept through Waikato.
Bay of Plenty
Flooding
at
Bay of Plenty
Roads and basements throughout Mount Maunganui, Papamoa and Te Puke were flooded when 40mm of rain fell between 6am and
8am on 18 April. Fire fighters responded to 28 flooding-related calls between about 7am and 10am.
High Wind / Gust
at
Bay of Plenty
High winds and falling trees resulted in 6700 Western Bay of Plenty Powerco customers losing power.
References
- Insurance Council of New Zealand (www.icnz.org.nz/current/weather)
- Headline: Stormy path of destruction
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 19 April 2014
- Headline: Warnings follow extreme weather.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 19 April 2014
- Rescue from raging floodwaters.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 19 April 2014
- Headline: Wet weather to slowly improve.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 20 April 2014
- Headline: Roads damaged in deluge.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 21 April 2014
- Headline: West Coast cleans up after damaging storm
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 23 April 2014
- Roofs ripped off, paddocks covered by Ita debris.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 24 April 2014
- Headline: Ita leaves insurers bill for $46m
- www.stuff.co.nz, 10 June 2014
April 2014 New Zealand Storm ( 2014-04-17 )
Ex-tropical cyclone Ita lay to the west of the North Island bringing heavy rain and strong winds. It moved southwards during the period 17-19 April. The very strong winds caused lots of damage, and brought down power lines, cutting the power supply to thousands of homes. Heavy rain also caused flooding. The worst affected area was the West Coast of the South Island.
New Zealand
Multi Hazard
at
New Zealand
Duration: 3 days - The storm lasted from 17 to 19 April 2014.
Insurance claims totalled $55.3 million. Most of the damage was to houses and contents ($25million). Damage to commercial property was close to $16 million, and motor vehicles $2.7 million
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 9:09am 17-Apr-2014: Includes HEAVY RAIN AND STRONG WINDS FORECAST FOR MANY PARTS OF NORTHERN AND CENTRAL NEW ZEALAND
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 3:16pm 17-Apr-2014: Includes HEAVY RAIN AND STRONG WINDS FORECAST FOR MANY PARTS OF CENTRAL NEW ZEALAND
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 8:52pm 17-Apr-2014: Includes HEAVY RAIN AND STRONG WINDS ABOUT CENTRAL NEW ZEALAND EASING TONIGHT OR FRIDAY
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 10:38am 18-Apr-2014: Includes HEAVY RAIN TODAY FOR NELSON, NORTHERN MARLBOROUGH, CANTERBURY, NORTH OTAGO AND DUNEDIN. HEAVY RAIN ON SATURDAY FOR WESTLAND.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 4:46pm 18-Apr-2014: Includes HEAVY RAIN FOR NELSON AND NORTHERN MARLBOROUGH UNTIL EARLY SATURDAY AND FOR WESTLAND DURING SATURDAY AND POSSIBLY INTO SUNDAY. THE RAIN HAS EASED OVER CANTERBURY AND EASTERN OTAGO AND THE WARNING FOR THESE AREAS IS LIFTED.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 8:05pm 18-Apr-2014: Includes HEAVY RAIN ABOUT NELSON AND NORTHERN MARLBOROUGH EASING FROM THE WEST OVERNIGHT FRIDAY AND EARLY SATURDAY. HEAVY RAIN FOR WESTLAND DURING SATURDAY AND POSSIBLY INTO SUNDAY.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 7:54am 19-Apr-2014: Includes HEAVY RAIN TODAY FOR THE RANGES OF WESTLAND
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 7:42pm 19-Apr-2014: Includes HEAVY RAIN ABOUT THE RANGES OF WESTLAND EASING OVERNIGHT SATURDAY
West Coast
High Wind / Gust
at
West Coast
The entire Buller Electricity network, which serviced 4500 customers from Punakaiki to Karamea, was without power after fallen trees caused significant damage to power lines.
High Wind / Gust
at
Westport
The strongest gust recorded at Westport was 130 km/h. The Westport Volunteer Fire Brigade had 145 call-outs in the first 48 hours of the storm
High Wind / Gust
at
Greymouth
60 Greymouth houses lost their roofs - and some lost the trusses as well. At least nine houses were probably write-offs. The Greymouth Volunteer Fire Brigade had between 85 and 100 call-outs in the first 48 hours of the storm. The Blaketown Band Hall was completely destroyed. A hangar was destroyed at the Greymouth aerodrome, completely wrecking one plane, and substantially damaging another three planes.
High Wind / Gust
at
Whataroa
The winds blew a campervan clean over a fence at Whataroa.
Multi Hazard
at
Springs Junction
Fifty vehicles, including campervans and trucks, spent the night stranded at Springs Junction after State Highway 7 - Lewis Pass - to Greymouth was closed.
Tasman-Nelson
Landslide
at
Tasman
Several main roads were closed due to slips and washouts.
Flooding
at
Takaka Hill
State Highway 60 over the Takaka Hill was closed due to flooding.
High Wind / Gust
at
Nelson
Eight intensive care unit (ICU) patients and staff had to be evacuated to the recovery ward of Nelson Hospital as a massive 12 x 6m section of the roof hung precariously over the department.
Marlborough
Multi Hazard
at
Marlborough
Heavy rain caused flooding, land slips and pot holes across the district's roads. Teams of around 40 staff were on call to carry out road repairs. The worst damage to roads was in the Awatere Valley.
Heavy Rain
at
Picton
146 millimetres of rain fell in Picton and Waikawa in 24 hours.
Landslide
at
Kaikoura
State Highway 1 was closed at Kaikoura after major slips threw boulders and debris onto the road. There were 24 slips and partial road blockages between Kaikoura and Piction. The Coastal Pacific train track was also closed.
Canterbury
Multi Hazard
at
Christchurch
The storm caused flooding, land slips, road blockages and power outages around the city.
Landslide
at
Akaroa
The main road to Akaroa from Little River was impassable due to slips.
Otago
Flooding
at
Otago
Welfare centres were set up in four North Otago towns along State Highway 1 to provide accommodation and food for motorists trapped by flood waters.
Flooding
at
Maheno
The Kakanui River burst its banks, forcing authorities to close SH1 at Maheno
Flooding
at
Five Forks
A woman was rescued from the roof of her car after the raging Kakanui River floodwaters swept her vehicle off the road at Five Forks. She had to smash a window to escape as water filled the car.
Auckland
Multi Hazard
at
Auckland
Parts of west Auckland and the North Shore were without hot water for four days after power lines were brought down by the strong winds. Some hot water pilots - which supply electricity to hot water cylinders, independently of the
main power supply - were not reconnected, even after power was restored.
Heavy rain caused extensive flooding on Tamaki Drive.
Waikato
Multi Hazard
at
Waikato
Wind gusts of around 100km/h and bouts of torrential rain left farm paddocks strewn with debris, knocked down fences and re-routed streams as the
storm swept through Waikato.
Bay of Plenty
Flooding
at
Bay of Plenty
Roads and basements throughout Mount Maunganui, Papamoa and Te Puke were flooded when 40mm of rain fell between 6am and
8am on 18 April. Fire fighters responded to 28 flooding-related calls between about 7am and 10am.
High Wind / Gust
at
Bay of Plenty
High winds and falling trees resulted in 6700 Western Bay of Plenty Powerco customers losing power.
References
- Insurance Council of New Zealand (www.icnz.org.nz/current/weather)
- Headline: Stormy path of destruction
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 19 April 2014
- Headline: Warnings follow extreme weather.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 19 April 2014
- Rescue from raging floodwaters.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 19 April 2014
- Headline: Wet weather to slowly improve.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 20 April 2014
- Headline: Roads damaged in deluge.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 21 April 2014
- Headline: West Coast cleans up after damaging storm
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 23 April 2014
- Roofs ripped off, paddocks covered by Ita debris.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 24 April 2014
- Headline: Ita leaves insurers bill for $46m
- www.stuff.co.nz, 10 June 2014