NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
December 2012 Auckland Tornado
(
2012-12-06
)
Around midday on Thursday 6 December an active trough line passed slowly through Auckland. A thunderstorm in this line produced a tornado that touched down near Hobsonville and Whenuapai. After passing northwest Auckland, the line of showers continued on a southeast path that took it across northern Waikato, Bay of Plenty and across Mahia Peninsula
Auckland
Multi Hazard
at
Auckland
Insurance claims for the tornado total $6.5 million.
The tornado struck about 12:15pm, ripping roofs from houses, toppling trees and sending debris flying. Houses were crushed by trees; some completely flattened. Power lines had been ripped out, windows smashed, and entire roofs had blown away.
The cost of the clean-up is estimated at $13 million.
There are 22 houses up for demolition; 18 in Whenuapai and four in Hobsonville.
Power was disrupted for about 1300 customers. Numerous parts of Auckland were affected, including Henderson, Greenhithe, Hobsonville, Riverhead, Meadowbank and St Johns.
There was widespread surface flooding on roads and motorways throughout Auckland and motorists were urged to take care or stay off the roads if possible. Several roads were closed, including State Highway 18 due to debris on the roads.
Tornado
at
Hobsonville
Three construction workers working at the Hobsonville Point school construction site were killed when they were crushed by falling concrete panels.
Seven people were taken to hospital, suffering moderate and minor injuries.
The storm damaged 150 houses and forced 250 residents to evacuate to the nearby Whenuapai airforce base.
Tornado
at
Whenuapai
The damage to the area around Waimarie and Totara Roads was extensive, with eight power poles and three transformers needing to be replaced.
Wind gusts of 110km/h were recorded at Whenuapai.
High Wind / Gust
at
Auckland International Airport
Airport staff were ordered off its tarmac to take shelter. At least 19 flight arrivals and 14 departures were cancelled.
Bay of Plenty
Multi Hazard
at
Rotorua
Forty schoolchildren were left stranded at a remote horse riding school, about 20 km northwest of Rotorua, when a 45 metre high gum tree was blown over and blocked the road. The tree brought down power lines, cutting power to 200 homes. A trampoline was blown through the wall of a house at the riding school. The strong winds sent calves flying into the air, and horses were hurt when they were struck by lightning.
There was also flash flooding resulting from torrential rain associated with the storm.
Lightning
at
Reporoa
Eight dairy cows were killed by lightning, when a storm struck about 3 pm. The storm brought more than 54mm of rainfall to the region and dozens of lightning strikes.
Waikato
Multi Hazard
at
Waikato
Waikato experienced thunder, heavy rain and surface flooding during a storm that swept through in the afternoon.
References
- Headline: Vicious twister turns calm to shrieking mayhem.
- New Zealand Herald, 7 December 2012.
- Headline: Tornado clean-up begins as Key heads to destruction zone.
- New Zealand Herald, 7 December 2012.
- Headline: Twisters pummel Auckland, Rotorua.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 6 December 2012.
- Headline: Rotorua tornado: Calves tossed into the air.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 7 December 2012.
- Headline: Lightning strike claims cows
- www.bayofplentytimes.co.nz, 11 December 2012.
- Headline: Tornado repair bill $13m and rising
- www.stuff.co.nz, 10 December 2012.
- Headline: Auckland tornado impossible to predict - expert.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 11 December 2012.
- Insurance Council of New Zealand (www.icnz.org.nz/current/weather)
December 2012 Auckland Tornado
(
2012-12-06
)
Around midday on Thursday 6 December an active trough line passed slowly through Auckland. A thunderstorm in this line produced a tornado that touched down near Hobsonville and Whenuapai. After passing northwest Auckland, the line of showers continued on a southeast path that took it across northern Waikato, Bay of Plenty and across Mahia Peninsula
Auckland
Multi Hazard
at
Auckland
Insurance claims for the tornado total $6.5 million.
The tornado struck about 12:15pm, ripping roofs from houses, toppling trees and sending debris flying. Houses were crushed by trees; some completely flattened. Power lines had been ripped out, windows smashed, and entire roofs had blown away.
The cost of the clean-up is estimated at $13 million.
There are 22 houses up for demolition; 18 in Whenuapai and four in Hobsonville.
Power was disrupted for about 1300 customers. Numerous parts of Auckland were affected, including Henderson, Greenhithe, Hobsonville, Riverhead, Meadowbank and St Johns.
There was widespread surface flooding on roads and motorways throughout Auckland and motorists were urged to take care or stay off the roads if possible. Several roads were closed, including State Highway 18 due to debris on the roads.
Tornado
at
Hobsonville
Three construction workers working at the Hobsonville Point school construction site were killed when they were crushed by falling concrete panels.
Seven people were taken to hospital, suffering moderate and minor injuries.
The storm damaged 150 houses and forced 250 residents to evacuate to the nearby Whenuapai airforce base.
Tornado
at
Whenuapai
The damage to the area around Waimarie and Totara Roads was extensive, with eight power poles and three transformers needing to be replaced.
Wind gusts of 110km/h were recorded at Whenuapai.
High Wind / Gust
at
Auckland International Airport
Airport staff were ordered off its tarmac to take shelter. At least 19 flight arrivals and 14 departures were cancelled.
Bay of Plenty
Multi Hazard
at
Rotorua
Forty schoolchildren were left stranded at a remote horse riding school, about 20 km northwest of Rotorua, when a 45 metre high gum tree was blown over and blocked the road. The tree brought down power lines, cutting power to 200 homes. A trampoline was blown through the wall of a house at the riding school. The strong winds sent calves flying into the air, and horses were hurt when they were struck by lightning.
There was also flash flooding resulting from torrential rain associated with the storm.
Lightning
at
Reporoa
Eight dairy cows were killed by lightning, when a storm struck about 3 pm. The storm brought more than 54mm of rainfall to the region and dozens of lightning strikes.
Waikato
Multi Hazard
at
Waikato
Waikato experienced thunder, heavy rain and surface flooding during a storm that swept through in the afternoon.
References
- Headline: Vicious twister turns calm to shrieking mayhem.
- New Zealand Herald, 7 December 2012.
- Headline: Tornado clean-up begins as Key heads to destruction zone.
- New Zealand Herald, 7 December 2012.
- Headline: Twisters pummel Auckland, Rotorua.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 6 December 2012.
- Headline: Rotorua tornado: Calves tossed into the air.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 7 December 2012.
- Headline: Lightning strike claims cows
- www.bayofplentytimes.co.nz, 11 December 2012.
- Headline: Tornado repair bill $13m and rising
- www.stuff.co.nz, 10 December 2012.
- Headline: Auckland tornado impossible to predict - expert.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 11 December 2012.
- Insurance Council of New Zealand (www.icnz.org.nz/current/weather)