NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
January 1924 New Zealand Storm ( 1924-01-09 )
New Zealand
Multi Hazard
at
New Zealand
Duration: 8 days - From the 9th to the 16th of January.
Hawke's Bay
Lightning
at
Hawke's Bay
A heavy thunderstorm was experienced on the 13th which lasted 10 minutes.
Heavy Rain
During thunderstorm 24 points (0.85 cm) of rain fell.
The fall was much heavier inland.
Heavy Rain
at
Napier
Napier recorded 72 points (2.54 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 13th.
Wellington
Heavy Rain
at
Wellington City
Very heavy rain fell in Wellington over night of the 14th and 15th, with one particularly fierce shower at 1am.
West Coast
Heavy Rain
at
Hokitika
Hokitika recorded 1.5 in (3.81 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 9th.
There were more heavy rains over the two days on the 12th and 13th.
Flooding
There was serious flooding around Hokitika.
Roads throughout the district were damaged.
Traffic was interrupted in the south temporarily.
No serious damage was reported.
Flooding
at
Kokatahi
Floodwaters isolated Kokatahi.
Flooding
at
Kaniere
Flat land near Kanieri was flooded.
Hokitika River rose in high flood and overflowed on to the the road to Kanieri.
Flooding
at
Westland County
There was an extremely heavy flood throughout the county.
Much flood damage was reported.
It was the highest flood on record in that district.
The road surface was damaged all the way from Arthurs Pass to Waiho.
Flooding
at
Ross
South from Ross, Kakapotahi Bridge over Waitaha River was washed away. Three spans of the bridge were washed away and this resulted in serious damage. A 6-span structure was valued at £1000 ($85,600 2009 dollars).
Canterbury
Heavy Rain
at
Christchurch
Christchurch recorded nearly 1.25 in (3.18 cm) of rain in nine hours from 3am to noon on the 15th.
High Wind / Gust
There was a heavy southerly gale, with a downpour of rain, that set in at 1:30am on the 15th.
Once rain had ceased, the wind continued to rage with great violence.
The wind did a good deal of damage in gardens and orchards.
Telegraphic interruptions were caused in many cases by falling trees, but were not serious enough to stop communication.
In the city six willows were uprooted on the Avon River bank.
Many radio aerials were blown away.
Gale slackened off during the afternoon of the 15th.
Otago
Multi Hazard
at
Lake Wakatipu
There was rains and southwest winds on the 14th and 15th.
Flooding
The lake rose 6 in (0.15 m) in less than 24 hours. In four days the lake had risen 5 ft 2 in (1.57 m).
Melting of snow in glacial regions was considered to be responsible to a large extent for the high levels of the lake.
At the peak of the flood, Lake Wakatipu was up to 9 ft (2.74 m) on the gauge.
Dart and Rees Rivers at the head of the lake were in high flood.
Flooding
at
Queenstown
Marine Parade, Rees Street and the lower end of Beach Street were a running sea.
Buildings were invaded.
A portion of the wooden breakwater railing was carried away.
The whole of the Marine Parade from the soldiers memorial gate to Horn Creek was flooded.
Coronation Bath House partially wrecked as a result of undermining.
The local railway wharf was submerged to a depth of 10 in (0.25 m).
All the wharves on the lake side were underwater.
Telephone lines between Glenorchy and Paradise were down in the vicinity of the Rees River.
Water receded from Rees and Beach Streets on the 17th and 18th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Glenorchy
Strong wind was blowing there all day on the 15th.
The wind caused waves which seriously endangered the Glenorchy wharf and goods shed. The structure was submerged and the planking had been lifted off by the action of the waves.
Flooding
at
Kawarau River
The Kawarau River was said to have been a roaring torrent, by parties coming through Kawarau Gorge from Cromwell.
Heavy Rain
at
Balclutha
There was very light rainfall during the the night of the 14th and 15th.
Flooding
On the morning of the 15th, the level of the Clutha River began to fall in Balclutha.
On the 15th, the height of the Clutha River was 10 ft (3.05 m) above normal at the traffic bridge.
A tremendous volume of water was running out to sea, carrying with it all kinds of debris from flooded districts up country.
There was no flooding in town.
Clutha River had a discharge of 80,000 cusecs (2265 cumecs) at Balclutha with a catchment area of 8100 sq miles (20,979 km^2).
Flooding
at
Otanomomo
At Otanomomo, the approach from the Balclutha side was flooded.
Flooding
at
Lawrence
Heavy rain fell between midday on the 12th until the 16th.
All railway lines were cleared on the 15th.
Flooding
at
Alexandra
From a reconstructed discharge curve, Clutha River had a discharge of 75,000 cusecs (2124 cumecs) at Alexandra. The catchment area was 5315 sq miles (13,766 km^2) and gauge height was 25 ft 3 in ( m).
Southland
Flooding
at
Mataura
The annual maximum flood discharge for the Mataura River was 200 cumecs ± 60 on the 14th of January.
References
- Cowie, C.A.: Attwood, A.K. (1957) Floods in New Zealand 1920-53, The Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand, p.239.
- Hydrology Annual No.3 1955, Soil Conservation and River Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand
- Headline: Back to Normal, Flood Menace Past, News from Queenstown.
- Otago Witness, 22 January 1924.
- Headline: Floods In Otago.
- Otago Witness, 22 January 1924.
- Headline: Gale in Christchurch.
- Otago Witness, 22 January 1924.
- Headline: Heavy Fall in Hawke's Bay.
- Otago Witness, 22 January 1924.
- Headline: Protective Banks at Balclutha.
- Otago Witness, 22 January 1924.
- Headline: Rain in the North.
- Otago Witness, 22 January 1924.
- Headline: Rain in Westland.
- Otago Witness, 22 January 1924.
- Surface Water Hydrology of the Mataura River Catchment.
- Headline: Floods in South.
- The Greymouth Evening Star, 11 January 1924.
January 1924 New Zealand Storm ( 1924-01-09 )
New Zealand
Multi Hazard
at
New Zealand
Duration: 8 days - From the 9th to the 16th of January.
Hawke's Bay
Lightning
at
Hawke's Bay
A heavy thunderstorm was experienced on the 13th which lasted 10 minutes.
Heavy Rain
During thunderstorm 24 points (0.85 cm) of rain fell.
The fall was much heavier inland.
Heavy Rain
at
Napier
Napier recorded 72 points (2.54 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 13th.
Wellington
Heavy Rain
at
Wellington City
Very heavy rain fell in Wellington over night of the 14th and 15th, with one particularly fierce shower at 1am.
West Coast
Heavy Rain
at
Hokitika
Hokitika recorded 1.5 in (3.81 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 9th.
There were more heavy rains over the two days on the 12th and 13th.
Flooding
There was serious flooding around Hokitika.
Roads throughout the district were damaged.
Traffic was interrupted in the south temporarily.
No serious damage was reported.
Flooding
at
Kokatahi
Floodwaters isolated Kokatahi.
Flooding
at
Kaniere
Flat land near Kanieri was flooded.
Hokitika River rose in high flood and overflowed on to the the road to Kanieri.
Flooding
at
Westland County
There was an extremely heavy flood throughout the county.
Much flood damage was reported.
It was the highest flood on record in that district.
The road surface was damaged all the way from Arthurs Pass to Waiho.
Flooding
at
Ross
South from Ross, Kakapotahi Bridge over Waitaha River was washed away. Three spans of the bridge were washed away and this resulted in serious damage. A 6-span structure was valued at £1000 ($85,600 2009 dollars).
Canterbury
Heavy Rain
at
Christchurch
Christchurch recorded nearly 1.25 in (3.18 cm) of rain in nine hours from 3am to noon on the 15th.
High Wind / Gust
There was a heavy southerly gale, with a downpour of rain, that set in at 1:30am on the 15th.
Once rain had ceased, the wind continued to rage with great violence.
The wind did a good deal of damage in gardens and orchards.
Telegraphic interruptions were caused in many cases by falling trees, but were not serious enough to stop communication.
In the city six willows were uprooted on the Avon River bank.
Many radio aerials were blown away.
Gale slackened off during the afternoon of the 15th.
Otago
Multi Hazard
at
Lake Wakatipu
There was rains and southwest winds on the 14th and 15th.
Flooding
The lake rose 6 in (0.15 m) in less than 24 hours. In four days the lake had risen 5 ft 2 in (1.57 m).
Melting of snow in glacial regions was considered to be responsible to a large extent for the high levels of the lake.
At the peak of the flood, Lake Wakatipu was up to 9 ft (2.74 m) on the gauge.
Dart and Rees Rivers at the head of the lake were in high flood.
Flooding
at
Queenstown
Marine Parade, Rees Street and the lower end of Beach Street were a running sea.
Buildings were invaded.
A portion of the wooden breakwater railing was carried away.
The whole of the Marine Parade from the soldiers memorial gate to Horn Creek was flooded.
Coronation Bath House partially wrecked as a result of undermining.
The local railway wharf was submerged to a depth of 10 in (0.25 m).
All the wharves on the lake side were underwater.
Telephone lines between Glenorchy and Paradise were down in the vicinity of the Rees River.
Water receded from Rees and Beach Streets on the 17th and 18th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Glenorchy
Strong wind was blowing there all day on the 15th.
The wind caused waves which seriously endangered the Glenorchy wharf and goods shed. The structure was submerged and the planking had been lifted off by the action of the waves.
Flooding
at
Kawarau River
The Kawarau River was said to have been a roaring torrent, by parties coming through Kawarau Gorge from Cromwell.
Heavy Rain
at
Balclutha
There was very light rainfall during the the night of the 14th and 15th.
Flooding
On the morning of the 15th, the level of the Clutha River began to fall in Balclutha.
On the 15th, the height of the Clutha River was 10 ft (3.05 m) above normal at the traffic bridge.
A tremendous volume of water was running out to sea, carrying with it all kinds of debris from flooded districts up country.
There was no flooding in town.
Clutha River had a discharge of 80,000 cusecs (2265 cumecs) at Balclutha with a catchment area of 8100 sq miles (20,979 km^2).
Flooding
at
Otanomomo
At Otanomomo, the approach from the Balclutha side was flooded.
Flooding
at
Lawrence
Heavy rain fell between midday on the 12th until the 16th.
All railway lines were cleared on the 15th.
Flooding
at
Alexandra
From a reconstructed discharge curve, Clutha River had a discharge of 75,000 cusecs (2124 cumecs) at Alexandra. The catchment area was 5315 sq miles (13,766 km^2) and gauge height was 25 ft 3 in ( m).
Southland
Flooding
at
Mataura
The annual maximum flood discharge for the Mataura River was 200 cumecs ± 60 on the 14th of January.
References
- Cowie, C.A.: Attwood, A.K. (1957) Floods in New Zealand 1920-53, The Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand, p.239.
- Hydrology Annual No.3 1955, Soil Conservation and River Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand
- Headline: Back to Normal, Flood Menace Past, News from Queenstown.
- Otago Witness, 22 January 1924.
- Headline: Floods In Otago.
- Otago Witness, 22 January 1924.
- Headline: Gale in Christchurch.
- Otago Witness, 22 January 1924.
- Headline: Heavy Fall in Hawke's Bay.
- Otago Witness, 22 January 1924.
- Headline: Protective Banks at Balclutha.
- Otago Witness, 22 January 1924.
- Headline: Rain in the North.
- Otago Witness, 22 January 1924.
- Headline: Rain in Westland.
- Otago Witness, 22 January 1924.
- Surface Water Hydrology of the Mataura River Catchment.
- Headline: Floods in South.
- The Greymouth Evening Star, 11 January 1924.