NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
August 1952 New Zealand Storm ( 1952-08-08 )
A storm brought heavy rain, flooding, high winds, high seas and slips to parts of northland, Auckland, Canterbury and Otago. High seas in Auckland Harbour flooded roads,a nd roads and bridges were damaged by flooding in Canterbury.
New Zealand
Multi Hazard
at
New Zealand
Duration: 3 days - From the 8th to the 10th of August.
Landslide
at
South Island
Slips occurred at various points on the Blenheim-Christchurch highway. The highway was impassable in several places.
Northland
Flooding
at
Northland
A bridge was washed out in the Far North.
There was extensive flooding in the Far North District.
Heavy Rain
at
Whangarei
Whangarei recorded 4.20 in (10.7 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 8th.
Auckland
Multi Hazard
at
Auckland
A fierce north-easterly storm struck the Auckland province on the 8th.
Roads were blocked by flood waters and slips.
Flooding
Rivers and creeks burst their banks, flooding large areas of land.
There were small stock losses.
Serious damage was done to farms.
High Wind / Gust
Auckland recorded winds of up to 40 knots (74 km/hr).
Three areas were without power when high-tension lines came down.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Hobson Bay
At Hobson Bay, water stretched across a low part of the road for 50 yards (46 m).
Heavy Rain
at
Mechanics Bay
Mechanics Bay recorded 2.29 in (5.8 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 8th.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Takapuna
Water reached a depth of 18 in (46 cm) on the North Shore.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Torpedo Bay
Two small launches and a small torpedo yacht were driven ashore at Torpedo Bay.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Waitemata Harbour
On both sides of the Waitemata Harbour, high seas flooded waterfront roads. A section of the waterfront road opposite the Auckland Harbour was flooded and impassable to traffic.
The tide rose 18 in (46 cm) above the normal spring tide.
Canterbury
Heavy Rain
at
Canterbury
Heavy rains swept the east coast for about six hours on the 9th.
A persistent easterly rain fell throughout South Canterbury.
Flooding
Some flooding occurred in parts of Canterbury.
Rain was not serious in northern areas, where rivers rose 3-4 ft (90 cm-1.2 m) above normal.
Main roads were blocked in several places by the flood waters.
In South Canterbury there was widespread flooding in rivers south of Timaru.
Bridges and farmland were threatened in parts of the country.
Maritime / Coastal
The rain was accompanied by heavy seas off the coast of North Canterbury.
Flooding
at
Birdlings Flat
The Christchurch-Akaroa highway was covered by water for 3 chains (60 m) at Birdling's Flat.
Flooding
at
Cheviot
The Main North road was blocked at Cheviot by deep flood waters from a flooded creek.
7 ft (2.1 m) of water covered the Cheviot deviation.
Heavy Rain
at
Clarence Bridge
Clarence Bridge recorded 4.00 in (10.2 cm) of rain in 48 hours.
Flooding
at
Holme Station Bridge
The approach to Holme station bridge was flooded.
Heavy Rain
at
Kaikoura
Kaikoura recorded 4.87 in (12.4 cm) of rain in five days.
Grange Road recorded 10.68 in (27.1 cm) of rain in five days.
It was one of the heaviest falls of rain in the Kaikoura district for many years.
Flooding
All creeks and rivers in the area were full.
The approach to the Harnetts Creek bridge disappeared.
Landslide
There were slips across the main south road.
Multi Hazard
Extensive damage was done to roads in the Kaikoura area.
Damage to Kaikoura county roads during the month totalled £3,176 ($158,500 2008 dollars).
Maritime / Coastal
The fishing launch 'Revittorio Vitese' sank at her moorings near the new wharf at Kaikoura.
Flooding
at
Lees Valley
Snow melted by warm rain in Lees Valley caused a considerable fresh in the Ashley River.
Flooding
at
Mangamaunu
There was considerable surface water in the Mangamaunu area.
Flooding
at
Oaro
The southern approache to the Oaro traffic bridge was washed away, blocking traffic.
Flooding
at
Otaio River
The Otaio river broke out on to River Road, and sheets of water flowed down the main highway from Hillborough Road.
Flooding
at
Pareora
Brassells bridge became impassable.
At Pareora, the crown of the road was under 2 ft (60 cm) of water.
Landslide
at
Parikawa
Shingle brought down by heavy rain covered the road at Parikawa.
Flooding
at
Springfield
A temporary traffic bridge over the Kowai River between Springfield and Kowai Bush was washed away.
Heavy Rain
at
Waihao Downs
Waihao Downs received 7 in (17.8 cm) of rain.
Flooding
at
Waihao River
Bradshaw bridge was under water.
Otago
Heavy Rain
at
Dunedin
Dunedin recorded 2.3 in (5.8 cm) of rain during the weekend (9th-10th).
It was one of the heaviest and most prolonged rainstorms in Dunedin that year.
Flooding
The Leith rose to a higher level than it had reached for some considerable time.
High Wind / Gust
High winds preceded the arrival of the rainstorm in the city.
The winds reached gusts of up to 45 m/hr (72 km/hr).
References
- Cowie, C.A.; Attwood, A.K. (1957). Floods in New Zealand 1920-1953. The Soil Conservation Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand.
- Headline: Storm lashes Auckland.
- The Nelson Evening Mail, 9 August 1952.
- Headline: Highway blocked, East coast route.
- The Nelson Evening Mail, 11 August 1952.
- Headline: Flooding in South Canterbury.
- The Press,11 August 1952.
- Headline: Heavy rainfall at weekend.
- The Press,11 August 1952.
- Headline: High winds in Dunedin.
- The Press,11 August 1952.
August 1952 New Zealand Storm ( 1952-08-08 )
A storm brought heavy rain, flooding, high winds, high seas and slips to parts of northland, Auckland, Canterbury and Otago. High seas in Auckland Harbour flooded roads,a nd roads and bridges were damaged by flooding in Canterbury.
New Zealand
Multi Hazard
at
New Zealand
Duration: 3 days - From the 8th to the 10th of August.
Landslide
at
South Island
Slips occurred at various points on the Blenheim-Christchurch highway. The highway was impassable in several places.
Northland
Flooding
at
Northland
A bridge was washed out in the Far North.
There was extensive flooding in the Far North District.
Heavy Rain
at
Whangarei
Whangarei recorded 4.20 in (10.7 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 8th.
Auckland
Multi Hazard
at
Auckland
A fierce north-easterly storm struck the Auckland province on the 8th.
Roads were blocked by flood waters and slips.
Flooding
Rivers and creeks burst their banks, flooding large areas of land.
There were small stock losses.
Serious damage was done to farms.
High Wind / Gust
Auckland recorded winds of up to 40 knots (74 km/hr).
Three areas were without power when high-tension lines came down.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Hobson Bay
At Hobson Bay, water stretched across a low part of the road for 50 yards (46 m).
Heavy Rain
at
Mechanics Bay
Mechanics Bay recorded 2.29 in (5.8 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 8th.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Takapuna
Water reached a depth of 18 in (46 cm) on the North Shore.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Torpedo Bay
Two small launches and a small torpedo yacht were driven ashore at Torpedo Bay.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Waitemata Harbour
On both sides of the Waitemata Harbour, high seas flooded waterfront roads. A section of the waterfront road opposite the Auckland Harbour was flooded and impassable to traffic.
The tide rose 18 in (46 cm) above the normal spring tide.
Canterbury
Heavy Rain
at
Canterbury
Heavy rains swept the east coast for about six hours on the 9th.
A persistent easterly rain fell throughout South Canterbury.
Flooding
Some flooding occurred in parts of Canterbury.
Rain was not serious in northern areas, where rivers rose 3-4 ft (90 cm-1.2 m) above normal.
Main roads were blocked in several places by the flood waters.
In South Canterbury there was widespread flooding in rivers south of Timaru.
Bridges and farmland were threatened in parts of the country.
Maritime / Coastal
The rain was accompanied by heavy seas off the coast of North Canterbury.
Flooding
at
Birdlings Flat
The Christchurch-Akaroa highway was covered by water for 3 chains (60 m) at Birdling's Flat.
Flooding
at
Cheviot
The Main North road was blocked at Cheviot by deep flood waters from a flooded creek.
7 ft (2.1 m) of water covered the Cheviot deviation.
Heavy Rain
at
Clarence Bridge
Clarence Bridge recorded 4.00 in (10.2 cm) of rain in 48 hours.
Flooding
at
Holme Station Bridge
The approach to Holme station bridge was flooded.
Heavy Rain
at
Kaikoura
Kaikoura recorded 4.87 in (12.4 cm) of rain in five days.
Grange Road recorded 10.68 in (27.1 cm) of rain in five days.
It was one of the heaviest falls of rain in the Kaikoura district for many years.
Flooding
All creeks and rivers in the area were full.
The approach to the Harnetts Creek bridge disappeared.
Landslide
There were slips across the main south road.
Multi Hazard
Extensive damage was done to roads in the Kaikoura area.
Damage to Kaikoura county roads during the month totalled £3,176 ($158,500 2008 dollars).
Maritime / Coastal
The fishing launch 'Revittorio Vitese' sank at her moorings near the new wharf at Kaikoura.
Flooding
at
Lees Valley
Snow melted by warm rain in Lees Valley caused a considerable fresh in the Ashley River.
Flooding
at
Mangamaunu
There was considerable surface water in the Mangamaunu area.
Flooding
at
Oaro
The southern approache to the Oaro traffic bridge was washed away, blocking traffic.
Flooding
at
Otaio River
The Otaio river broke out on to River Road, and sheets of water flowed down the main highway from Hillborough Road.
Flooding
at
Pareora
Brassells bridge became impassable.
At Pareora, the crown of the road was under 2 ft (60 cm) of water.
Landslide
at
Parikawa
Shingle brought down by heavy rain covered the road at Parikawa.
Flooding
at
Springfield
A temporary traffic bridge over the Kowai River between Springfield and Kowai Bush was washed away.
Heavy Rain
at
Waihao Downs
Waihao Downs received 7 in (17.8 cm) of rain.
Flooding
at
Waihao River
Bradshaw bridge was under water.
Otago
Heavy Rain
at
Dunedin
Dunedin recorded 2.3 in (5.8 cm) of rain during the weekend (9th-10th).
It was one of the heaviest and most prolonged rainstorms in Dunedin that year.
Flooding
The Leith rose to a higher level than it had reached for some considerable time.
High Wind / Gust
High winds preceded the arrival of the rainstorm in the city.
The winds reached gusts of up to 45 m/hr (72 km/hr).
References
- Cowie, C.A.; Attwood, A.K. (1957). Floods in New Zealand 1920-1953. The Soil Conservation Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand.
- Headline: Storm lashes Auckland.
- The Nelson Evening Mail, 9 August 1952.
- Headline: Highway blocked, East coast route.
- The Nelson Evening Mail, 11 August 1952.
- Headline: Flooding in South Canterbury.
- The Press,11 August 1952.
- Headline: Heavy rainfall at weekend.
- The Press,11 August 1952.
- Headline: High winds in Dunedin.
- The Press,11 August 1952.