NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
February 1945 Otago High Winds ( 1945-02-28 )
The area around Dunedin experienced high winds and heavy seas which caused damage to the mole at the entrance of the Otago Harbour.
Otago
High Wind / Gust
at
Dunedin
Dunedin was hit with a strong north-easterly wind on the night of the 28th. After midnight gusts of gale force were experienced in the city.
There was widespread damage done to reserves and private gardens.
Roadways near reserves were strewn with large branches broken from trees.
It was reported that several willow trees on the banks of the Leith in the north end of the city were blown down, crashing into the stream. The botanic gardens were littered with branches of tall trees and many flower pots were badly damaged.
At the Gardens corner tram stop a tall tree was uprooted and it crashed through a tall hedge near the Gardens gate.
It was reported that windows at two factories in Cumberland Street area were blown in.
There was considerable trouble experienced by the Electric Power and Lightning Department, owing to breaks in the power lines in various parts of the city.
One break in the power line occurred near Waverly Boys' Home and threw a large area of Otago Peninsula into darkness.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Aramoana
Several thousands of pounds of damage was done to the mole at the entrance to Otago Harbour.
Heavy seas swept away a 270-foot portion of the mole staging, together with the mole light.
From the land end of the mole to the buildings, the seas swept away stone and earthwork along the seaward edge. Some nearby buildings were seriously threatened.
The worst damage was done near the shipping storage shed. Some of the larger stones were thrown by the force of the waves on to the railway lines and wharf.
High Wind / Gust
A heavy piledriver, standing on the southern endowment near the foreshore opposite the Gasworks and which was anchored on heavy logs, was blown over by gale. It pulled up its log foundations as it fell.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Oamaru
Holmes wharf in Oamaru, received similar damage to the mole in Otago Harbour. Although a considerable amount of superficial damage resulted from the pounding of heavy seas.
References
- Headline: Gale Damage.
- Otago Daily Times, 1 March 1945.
- Headline: Mole Damaged, Entrance to Harbour.
- Otago Daily Times, 3 March 1945.
February 1945 Otago High Winds ( 1945-02-28 )
The area around Dunedin experienced high winds and heavy seas which caused damage to the mole at the entrance of the Otago Harbour.
Otago
High Wind / Gust
at
Dunedin
Dunedin was hit with a strong north-easterly wind on the night of the 28th. After midnight gusts of gale force were experienced in the city.
There was widespread damage done to reserves and private gardens.
Roadways near reserves were strewn with large branches broken from trees.
It was reported that several willow trees on the banks of the Leith in the north end of the city were blown down, crashing into the stream. The botanic gardens were littered with branches of tall trees and many flower pots were badly damaged.
At the Gardens corner tram stop a tall tree was uprooted and it crashed through a tall hedge near the Gardens gate.
It was reported that windows at two factories in Cumberland Street area were blown in.
There was considerable trouble experienced by the Electric Power and Lightning Department, owing to breaks in the power lines in various parts of the city.
One break in the power line occurred near Waverly Boys' Home and threw a large area of Otago Peninsula into darkness.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Aramoana
Several thousands of pounds of damage was done to the mole at the entrance to Otago Harbour.
Heavy seas swept away a 270-foot portion of the mole staging, together with the mole light.
From the land end of the mole to the buildings, the seas swept away stone and earthwork along the seaward edge. Some nearby buildings were seriously threatened.
The worst damage was done near the shipping storage shed. Some of the larger stones were thrown by the force of the waves on to the railway lines and wharf.
High Wind / Gust
A heavy piledriver, standing on the southern endowment near the foreshore opposite the Gasworks and which was anchored on heavy logs, was blown over by gale. It pulled up its log foundations as it fell.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Oamaru
Holmes wharf in Oamaru, received similar damage to the mole in Otago Harbour. Although a considerable amount of superficial damage resulted from the pounding of heavy seas.
References
- Headline: Gale Damage.
- Otago Daily Times, 1 March 1945.
- Headline: Mole Damaged, Entrance to Harbour.
- Otago Daily Times, 3 March 1945.