NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
August 1978 Otago and Canterbury Snow and Flooding ( 1978-08-25 )
Snow fell in Canterbury and Otago. Otago experienced flooding after heavy rain.
New Zealand
Multi Hazard
at
New Zealand
The snowfall in Canterbury and Otago was caused by a large, slow-moving depression covering the entire country.
Canterbury
Multi Hazard
at
Canterbury
Duration: 3 days - Heavy rain and snow fell in parts of Canterbury from the 25th to the 27th. Rain and sleet lashed the south Canterbury coast.
Heavy Rain
Canterbury coast had up to 7.5cm of rain.
Snow / Ice
Snow carpeted inland Canterbury and Mackenzie Basin on the 25th.
Lamb losses were higher than normal but were described as "surprisingly few". One young farmer near Ashburton said most young lambs that were left in the open had died.
A carpet of snow up to 45.0cm deep covered the Mackenzie Country.
Heaviest falls were between Tekapo township and Burkes Pass, 22km from Fairlie.
Surface flooding and snow closed many South Canterbury roads during the 25th. The main highway between Fairlie and Mount Cook was cleared of snow on the 25th.
There was little damage caused by the weather.
Snow / Ice
at
Burkes Pass
Deep snow forced the closure of Burkes Pass.
Snow / Ice
at
Twizel
For a period on the morning of the 25th, Twizel was snowed in with traffic unable to use Lindis Pass, Highway 83 or Burkes Pass.
Snow was drifting around Twizel, and approximately 600 men working on Ministry of Works and Development projects were sent home.
Snow / Ice
at
Kurow
Heavy snowfalls around Kurow cut local services to 40 subscribers.
Snow / Ice
at
Arthurs Pass
Arthur's Pass lay under over 50cm of snow after a week of periodic falls which continued until midday on the 25th.
Snow / Ice
at
Hakataramea Valley
Up to 40 cm of snow fell at the top of the valley.
The snow brought down power and telephone lines.
Heavy snowfalls in Hakataramea Valley began to thaw in the rain on the 27th.
Snow / Ice
at
Omarama
Omarama recorded 5cm of snow.
Otago
Multi Hazard
at
Otago
Duration: 3 days - Heavy rain and snow fell in parts of Otago from the 25th to the 27th.
The bad weather caused a stream of vehicle breakdowns.
Power and telephone services were disrupted.
Heavy snowfalls and strong winds kept ski fields closed.
Worst-hit road area was State Highway 85 between Palmerston and Ranfurly, which was closed on the 25th because of snow and flooding.
Flooding
Dunedin was cut off from Christchurch by flooding on State Highway 1 at Pukeuri. The road was closed at around 8:30pm on the 25th when the depth of water became too formidable for vehicles. A line of approximately 400 cars built up on southern side of the flooding at Pukeuri on the 26th. At around the same time, State Highway 8, the main route to Central Otago, was closed at Waitahuna by flooding.
All highways in Otago reopened on the 26th.
In most areas of North Otago flooding went down as rapidly as it had risen.
The road from Waimate to Kurow was closed due to flooding.
Snow / Ice
Snow blocked roads in Central Otago.
Deep snow forced the closure of Lindis Pass, State Highway 87 from Hyde to Kyeburn and State Highway 85 at Pigroot.
Despite "road closed" signs on Lindis Pass and Pigroot, some drivers tried to get through and became stuck.
The was some stock losses in North Otago, mainly recently shorn ewes and lambs.
Landslide
The main trunk railway line between Dunedin and Oamaru was closed by slips.
Snow / Ice
at
Ranfurly
There was approximately 15 cm of snow that fell on the 24th.
Multi Hazard
Telephone services to the town were cut by snow and the town was without electricity for four hours on the 25th.
The snow was followed by heavy rain which caused some flooding of houses in the town.
Post Office staff battled rain and sleet to repair toll lines broken by snow and winds in Maniototo area, which had severed Ranfurly's links with outside world.
Multi Hazard
at
Allanton
The main trunk railway line at Allanton was still closed on the 27th.
Multi Hazard
at
Herbert
A slip at Herbert covered two thirds of the road and caused two minor accidents.
Heavy Rain
at
Dunedin
Fairfield recorded 5.6cm of rain in 24 hours to 7pm on the 25th (unofficial rainfall figure).
Waverley recorded 6.4cm of rain in 24 hours to 7pm on the 25th (unofficial rainfall figure).
Opoho recorded 9.3cm of rain in 24 hours to 7pm on the 25th (unofficial rainfall figure).
Flooding
Dunedin lay isolated by floodwaters which blocked main traffic routes north and south of city on the night of the 25th.
The sports grounds were saturated and all sport was understood to have been cancelled.
The grounds of pensioners flats at 109 Surrey Street were flooded by sewerage and storm water at about 8pm on the 25th.
Landslide
Four cars were damaged when a slip came down into the main carpark of Valley Lodge motor hotel in Kaikorai Valley at around 6:30pm.
Flooding
at
Taieri Plain
Late on the night of the 25th, Taieri River was running at its highest level since 1961 and was still rising.
Huge stretches of Taieri Plain was under water.
Many streets in Mosgiel were flooded.
Taieri River was 7 ft (2.13m) above normal at Outram gauge.
Taieri River rose rapidly on the afternoon of the 25th and a warning to move stock was issued.
One Taieri farmer lost all 30 lambs born on his property in past three days.
About 2000 hectares were affected by flooding in the East Taieri area.
About 3000 hectares were under water in West Taieri. The flooding was described as "still massive" on the 27th.
The road between Henley and Berwick was still covered by approximately one metre of water on the afternoon of the 27th.
Extensive stream erosion was evident at Mill Creek at North Taieri.
There was some stock losses but they were light considering the magnitude of the flood. The losses were mostly lambs as the flood occurred at the beginning of lambing season.
One farmer only had 6 hectares out of 45 hectares above water.
One farmer had 48 hectares out of 72 hectares underwater.
Berwick flats was flooded as a result of Waipori River going over its banks.
About 250 hectares at Berwick Flats was under water.
Flooding
at
Milton
State Highway 1 at Milton was closed at around 10pm on the 25th.
Flooding
at
Riverside
Two families were evacuated in the Riverside area, although floodwaters hadn't yet reached their houses.
Flooding was caused by the high levels of Taieri River and Silver Stream. Water was swirling 10cm deep inside a farm house at Riverside.
They had no tap water as the water pump was under water.
One cow was lost on the farm.
Landslide
at
Port Chalmers
A slip closed the road from Port Chalmers to Aramoana, approximately two kilometres from the Port Chalmers township.
Flooding
at
Papakaio
Flooding on Papakaio plains was severe, but water drained away quickly.
Landslide
at
Sawyers Bay
A locomotive was derailed in a slip near Sawyers Bay late on the 25th. It was approaching the southern entrance at about 4:30pm when the ground above the track slipped but there were no injuries.
Heavy Rain
at
Oamaru
Oamaru recorded over 6.0cm of rain.
Flooding
Rain in Oamaru caused widespread flooding on lower levels.
Numerous roads were badly affected through surface flooding and detours were necessary in some cases.
Multi Hazard
at
Alexandra
A tree brought down in a storm held up the morning railways bus from Alexandra for over two hours.
Snow / Ice
at
Mount Hutt
Mount Hutt had one metre of snow.
Snow / Ice
at
Coronet Peak
Coronet Peak had 20 cm of snow.
Snow / Ice
at
Treble Cone
Treble Cone had 10 cm of snow.
References
- Headline: Lamb Losses Not Heavy.
- Otago Daily Times, 26 August 1978.
- Headline: Rainfall Record.
- Otago Daily Times, 26 August 1978.
- Headline: Widespread Flooding Disrupts Services.
- Otago Daily Times, 26 August 1978.
- Headline: All Services Restored as Flooding Recedes.
- Otago Daily Times, 28 August 1978.
- Headline: Taieri Sharemilker Washed Out: Home Flooded.
- Otago Daily Times, 28 August 1978.
- Headline: Stock lost in floods.
- Otago Daily Times, 29 August 1978.
August 1978 Otago and Canterbury Snow and Flooding ( 1978-08-25 )
Snow fell in Canterbury and Otago. Otago experienced flooding after heavy rain.
New Zealand
Multi Hazard
at
New Zealand
The snowfall in Canterbury and Otago was caused by a large, slow-moving depression covering the entire country.
Canterbury
Multi Hazard
at
Canterbury
Duration: 3 days - Heavy rain and snow fell in parts of Canterbury from the 25th to the 27th. Rain and sleet lashed the south Canterbury coast.
Heavy Rain
Canterbury coast had up to 7.5cm of rain.
Snow / Ice
Snow carpeted inland Canterbury and Mackenzie Basin on the 25th.
Lamb losses were higher than normal but were described as "surprisingly few". One young farmer near Ashburton said most young lambs that were left in the open had died.
A carpet of snow up to 45.0cm deep covered the Mackenzie Country.
Heaviest falls were between Tekapo township and Burkes Pass, 22km from Fairlie.
Surface flooding and snow closed many South Canterbury roads during the 25th. The main highway between Fairlie and Mount Cook was cleared of snow on the 25th.
There was little damage caused by the weather.
Snow / Ice
at
Burkes Pass
Deep snow forced the closure of Burkes Pass.
Snow / Ice
at
Twizel
For a period on the morning of the 25th, Twizel was snowed in with traffic unable to use Lindis Pass, Highway 83 or Burkes Pass.
Snow was drifting around Twizel, and approximately 600 men working on Ministry of Works and Development projects were sent home.
Snow / Ice
at
Kurow
Heavy snowfalls around Kurow cut local services to 40 subscribers.
Snow / Ice
at
Arthurs Pass
Arthur's Pass lay under over 50cm of snow after a week of periodic falls which continued until midday on the 25th.
Snow / Ice
at
Hakataramea Valley
Up to 40 cm of snow fell at the top of the valley.
The snow brought down power and telephone lines.
Heavy snowfalls in Hakataramea Valley began to thaw in the rain on the 27th.
Snow / Ice
at
Omarama
Omarama recorded 5cm of snow.
Otago
Multi Hazard
at
Otago
Duration: 3 days - Heavy rain and snow fell in parts of Otago from the 25th to the 27th.
The bad weather caused a stream of vehicle breakdowns.
Power and telephone services were disrupted.
Heavy snowfalls and strong winds kept ski fields closed.
Worst-hit road area was State Highway 85 between Palmerston and Ranfurly, which was closed on the 25th because of snow and flooding.
Flooding
Dunedin was cut off from Christchurch by flooding on State Highway 1 at Pukeuri. The road was closed at around 8:30pm on the 25th when the depth of water became too formidable for vehicles. A line of approximately 400 cars built up on southern side of the flooding at Pukeuri on the 26th. At around the same time, State Highway 8, the main route to Central Otago, was closed at Waitahuna by flooding.
All highways in Otago reopened on the 26th.
In most areas of North Otago flooding went down as rapidly as it had risen.
The road from Waimate to Kurow was closed due to flooding.
Snow / Ice
Snow blocked roads in Central Otago.
Deep snow forced the closure of Lindis Pass, State Highway 87 from Hyde to Kyeburn and State Highway 85 at Pigroot.
Despite "road closed" signs on Lindis Pass and Pigroot, some drivers tried to get through and became stuck.
The was some stock losses in North Otago, mainly recently shorn ewes and lambs.
Landslide
The main trunk railway line between Dunedin and Oamaru was closed by slips.
Snow / Ice
at
Ranfurly
There was approximately 15 cm of snow that fell on the 24th.
Multi Hazard
Telephone services to the town were cut by snow and the town was without electricity for four hours on the 25th.
The snow was followed by heavy rain which caused some flooding of houses in the town.
Post Office staff battled rain and sleet to repair toll lines broken by snow and winds in Maniototo area, which had severed Ranfurly's links with outside world.
Multi Hazard
at
Allanton
The main trunk railway line at Allanton was still closed on the 27th.
Multi Hazard
at
Herbert
A slip at Herbert covered two thirds of the road and caused two minor accidents.
Heavy Rain
at
Dunedin
Fairfield recorded 5.6cm of rain in 24 hours to 7pm on the 25th (unofficial rainfall figure).
Waverley recorded 6.4cm of rain in 24 hours to 7pm on the 25th (unofficial rainfall figure).
Opoho recorded 9.3cm of rain in 24 hours to 7pm on the 25th (unofficial rainfall figure).
Flooding
Dunedin lay isolated by floodwaters which blocked main traffic routes north and south of city on the night of the 25th.
The sports grounds were saturated and all sport was understood to have been cancelled.
The grounds of pensioners flats at 109 Surrey Street were flooded by sewerage and storm water at about 8pm on the 25th.
Landslide
Four cars were damaged when a slip came down into the main carpark of Valley Lodge motor hotel in Kaikorai Valley at around 6:30pm.
Flooding
at
Taieri Plain
Late on the night of the 25th, Taieri River was running at its highest level since 1961 and was still rising.
Huge stretches of Taieri Plain was under water.
Many streets in Mosgiel were flooded.
Taieri River was 7 ft (2.13m) above normal at Outram gauge.
Taieri River rose rapidly on the afternoon of the 25th and a warning to move stock was issued.
One Taieri farmer lost all 30 lambs born on his property in past three days.
About 2000 hectares were affected by flooding in the East Taieri area.
About 3000 hectares were under water in West Taieri. The flooding was described as "still massive" on the 27th.
The road between Henley and Berwick was still covered by approximately one metre of water on the afternoon of the 27th.
Extensive stream erosion was evident at Mill Creek at North Taieri.
There was some stock losses but they were light considering the magnitude of the flood. The losses were mostly lambs as the flood occurred at the beginning of lambing season.
One farmer only had 6 hectares out of 45 hectares above water.
One farmer had 48 hectares out of 72 hectares underwater.
Berwick flats was flooded as a result of Waipori River going over its banks.
About 250 hectares at Berwick Flats was under water.
Flooding
at
Milton
State Highway 1 at Milton was closed at around 10pm on the 25th.
Flooding
at
Riverside
Two families were evacuated in the Riverside area, although floodwaters hadn't yet reached their houses.
Flooding was caused by the high levels of Taieri River and Silver Stream. Water was swirling 10cm deep inside a farm house at Riverside.
They had no tap water as the water pump was under water.
One cow was lost on the farm.
Landslide
at
Port Chalmers
A slip closed the road from Port Chalmers to Aramoana, approximately two kilometres from the Port Chalmers township.
Flooding
at
Papakaio
Flooding on Papakaio plains was severe, but water drained away quickly.
Landslide
at
Sawyers Bay
A locomotive was derailed in a slip near Sawyers Bay late on the 25th. It was approaching the southern entrance at about 4:30pm when the ground above the track slipped but there were no injuries.
Heavy Rain
at
Oamaru
Oamaru recorded over 6.0cm of rain.
Flooding
Rain in Oamaru caused widespread flooding on lower levels.
Numerous roads were badly affected through surface flooding and detours were necessary in some cases.
Multi Hazard
at
Alexandra
A tree brought down in a storm held up the morning railways bus from Alexandra for over two hours.
Snow / Ice
at
Mount Hutt
Mount Hutt had one metre of snow.
Snow / Ice
at
Coronet Peak
Coronet Peak had 20 cm of snow.
Snow / Ice
at
Treble Cone
Treble Cone had 10 cm of snow.
References
- Headline: Lamb Losses Not Heavy.
- Otago Daily Times, 26 August 1978.
- Headline: Rainfall Record.
- Otago Daily Times, 26 August 1978.
- Headline: Widespread Flooding Disrupts Services.
- Otago Daily Times, 26 August 1978.
- Headline: All Services Restored as Flooding Recedes.
- Otago Daily Times, 28 August 1978.
- Headline: Taieri Sharemilker Washed Out: Home Flooded.
- Otago Daily Times, 28 August 1978.
- Headline: Stock lost in floods.
- Otago Daily Times, 29 August 1978.