NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
January 1958 Canterbury and Hawke's Bay Hail and Otago Flooding
(
1958-01-04
)
Hail caused severe damage in Ashburton and heavy rain caused flooding across the Taieri Plains.
New Zealand
Multi Hazard
at
New Zealand
Duration: 2 days - From the 4th to the 5th of January.
Hawke's Bay
Hail
at
Waimarama
A hail storm on the 5th hit Waimarama, a town south-east of Napier.
The hail was a pea size and was approximately 5 mm in diameter.
Canterbury
Heavy Rain
at
Canterbury
Heavy rain was reported around Kurow and Omarama on the 5th.
Flooding
The highway from Pukeuri, Kurow and Omarama flooded between Pukeuri and Duntroon in a dozen places on the 5th.
Hail
at
Ashburton
At 3pm on the 4th Ashburton was hit with a severe hailstorm. The impact of it was similar though less damaging than the hailstorm of 11 years ago.
The storm swept in from the north-west in a belt three miles (4.8 km) wide. Within minutes the ground was covered with hailstones.
The first burst of hail broke gutters and spoutings. The second burst piled up hail inches deep. Water poured into hundreds of houses and shops.
During the height of storm visibility was practically nil and most traffic was halted.
The duration of the storm was 30 minutes.
Fruit, vegetables and flower gardens were torn to shreds.
Glasshouses suffered only a few cracked panes.
Lightning
The hail storm was accompanied by vivid lightning and thunder.
Heavy Rain
Heavy rain followed the storm. Ashburton recorded 2 in (5.08 cm) of rain up to 9:00am on the 5th. A further inch (2.54 cm) or more was recorded during the day of the 5th.
Flooding
at
Benmore
At Benmore the Bailey Bridge was not negotiable.
Otago
Multi Hazard
at
Otago
On the 5th there was heavy rain and flooding in Otago. Weather cleared in most parts by the night of the 5th.
Heavy Rain
Five Forks, Kauru Hill and the Kai-ora area received over 4 in (10.16 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Flooding
Rivers and streams were swollen after heavy rain in North Otago.
Main highways and back country roads were flooded and the damage to roads was severe.
In the Five Forks, Kauru Hill and Kai-ora area up to 2 ft (0.61 m) of water covered the road.
Flooding
at
Balclutha
Clutha River was at 67.6 ft (20.60 m).
Heavy Rain
at
Dunedin
There was severe rain in Dunedin, which recorded over one inch (2.54 cm) of rain on the morning of the 5th.
Flooding
Gardens and roads all over the city were damaged.
A 6 ft (1.83 m) retaining wall made of boulders was knocked down.
Roads in Waverly and Kaikorai Valley were damaged.
Flooding
at
East Taieri
Over 4000 (1619 ha) acres of land was inundated.
The damage to roads was considerable.
Outram Bridge was closed.
Flooding
at
Elderslie
Waiareka Creek rose and flooded the highway between Waiareka, Ngapara and Duntroon to depth of 2 ft (0.61 m) at Elderslie, making it impassable.
Flooding
at
Lindis Pass
Creeks on the Lindis Pass rose fast.
Flooding
at
Maheno
The main highway at Maheno was impassable between 10:30am and 5:30pm on the 5th and traffic was deviated.
Kakanui River crossed the road one mile north of Maheno and at one stage lay 18 in to 2 ft (0.46-0.61 m) deep for 150 yards (137 m).
Water was over the road at Gemmells Crossing.
Campers were forced to evacuate tents and cribs.
Flooding
at
Middlemarch
There was extensive flooding in Middlemarch.
Heavy Rain
at
Oamaru
Oamaru recorded 1.28 in (3.25 cm) of rain from 9:00am on the 4th.
Flooding
In Oamaru there was no flooding.
Heavy Rain
at
Queenstown
Queenstown recorded 0.5 in (1.27 cm) of rain.
Heavy Rain
at
Ranfurly
Ranfurly recorded 1.3 in (3.30 cm) of rain.
Flooding
at
Riverside
Six families were isolated at Riverside.
A temporary bank at Riverside on the Taieri River, which had been breached earlier, was completely washed out on the 5th.
Flooding
at
Taieri River
There was heavy widespread rain over most of catchment between Deep Stream and Ranfurly on the 4th.
Taieri River reached a peak level of 13.5 ft (4.11 m) at 8.30pm on the 5th at Outram. This was preceded by a fresh on the 2nd which reached 6.5 ft (1.98 m) on the Outram Bridge gauge.
Taieri River had a discharge of 15,000 cusecs (425 cumecs) at Outram on the 5th. The catchment area 1850 sq miles (4791 km^2).
Flooding
at
Waitaki River
Waitaki River was not unusually high.
References
- Catalogue of Severe Hail Storms, 1924 - 1986 and 1991 - 2006; Source: Neale
- Headline: Ashburton Celebrate Storm Anniversary with New Visitation.
- Otago Daily Times, 6 January 1958.
- Headline: North Otago Flooding.
- Otago Daily Times, 6 January 1958.
- Headline: Six families flood-bound.
- Otago Daily Times, 6 January 1958.
- Headline: Three Fronts Threatened.
- Otago Daily Times, 6 January 1958.
- Headline: Widespread Damage In City Caused By Downpour.
- Otago Daily Times, 6 January 1958.
- Owen, R.E. (1960). Hydrology Annual, No.6, 1958. Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand.
January 1958 Canterbury and Hawke's Bay Hail and Otago Flooding
(
1958-01-04
)
Hail caused severe damage in Ashburton and heavy rain caused flooding across the Taieri Plains.
New Zealand
Multi Hazard
at
New Zealand
Duration: 2 days - From the 4th to the 5th of January.
Hawke's Bay
Hail
at
Waimarama
A hail storm on the 5th hit Waimarama, a town south-east of Napier.
The hail was a pea size and was approximately 5 mm in diameter.
Canterbury
Heavy Rain
at
Canterbury
Heavy rain was reported around Kurow and Omarama on the 5th.
Flooding
The highway from Pukeuri, Kurow and Omarama flooded between Pukeuri and Duntroon in a dozen places on the 5th.
Hail
at
Ashburton
At 3pm on the 4th Ashburton was hit with a severe hailstorm. The impact of it was similar though less damaging than the hailstorm of 11 years ago.
The storm swept in from the north-west in a belt three miles (4.8 km) wide. Within minutes the ground was covered with hailstones.
The first burst of hail broke gutters and spoutings. The second burst piled up hail inches deep. Water poured into hundreds of houses and shops.
During the height of storm visibility was practically nil and most traffic was halted.
The duration of the storm was 30 minutes.
Fruit, vegetables and flower gardens were torn to shreds.
Glasshouses suffered only a few cracked panes.
Lightning
The hail storm was accompanied by vivid lightning and thunder.
Heavy Rain
Heavy rain followed the storm. Ashburton recorded 2 in (5.08 cm) of rain up to 9:00am on the 5th. A further inch (2.54 cm) or more was recorded during the day of the 5th.
Flooding
at
Benmore
At Benmore the Bailey Bridge was not negotiable.
Otago
Multi Hazard
at
Otago
On the 5th there was heavy rain and flooding in Otago. Weather cleared in most parts by the night of the 5th.
Heavy Rain
Five Forks, Kauru Hill and the Kai-ora area received over 4 in (10.16 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Flooding
Rivers and streams were swollen after heavy rain in North Otago.
Main highways and back country roads were flooded and the damage to roads was severe.
In the Five Forks, Kauru Hill and Kai-ora area up to 2 ft (0.61 m) of water covered the road.
Flooding
at
Balclutha
Clutha River was at 67.6 ft (20.60 m).
Heavy Rain
at
Dunedin
There was severe rain in Dunedin, which recorded over one inch (2.54 cm) of rain on the morning of the 5th.
Flooding
Gardens and roads all over the city were damaged.
A 6 ft (1.83 m) retaining wall made of boulders was knocked down.
Roads in Waverly and Kaikorai Valley were damaged.
Flooding
at
East Taieri
Over 4000 (1619 ha) acres of land was inundated.
The damage to roads was considerable.
Outram Bridge was closed.
Flooding
at
Elderslie
Waiareka Creek rose and flooded the highway between Waiareka, Ngapara and Duntroon to depth of 2 ft (0.61 m) at Elderslie, making it impassable.
Flooding
at
Lindis Pass
Creeks on the Lindis Pass rose fast.
Flooding
at
Maheno
The main highway at Maheno was impassable between 10:30am and 5:30pm on the 5th and traffic was deviated.
Kakanui River crossed the road one mile north of Maheno and at one stage lay 18 in to 2 ft (0.46-0.61 m) deep for 150 yards (137 m).
Water was over the road at Gemmells Crossing.
Campers were forced to evacuate tents and cribs.
Flooding
at
Middlemarch
There was extensive flooding in Middlemarch.
Heavy Rain
at
Oamaru
Oamaru recorded 1.28 in (3.25 cm) of rain from 9:00am on the 4th.
Flooding
In Oamaru there was no flooding.
Heavy Rain
at
Queenstown
Queenstown recorded 0.5 in (1.27 cm) of rain.
Heavy Rain
at
Ranfurly
Ranfurly recorded 1.3 in (3.30 cm) of rain.
Flooding
at
Riverside
Six families were isolated at Riverside.
A temporary bank at Riverside on the Taieri River, which had been breached earlier, was completely washed out on the 5th.
Flooding
at
Taieri River
There was heavy widespread rain over most of catchment between Deep Stream and Ranfurly on the 4th.
Taieri River reached a peak level of 13.5 ft (4.11 m) at 8.30pm on the 5th at Outram. This was preceded by a fresh on the 2nd which reached 6.5 ft (1.98 m) on the Outram Bridge gauge.
Taieri River had a discharge of 15,000 cusecs (425 cumecs) at Outram on the 5th. The catchment area 1850 sq miles (4791 km^2).
Flooding
at
Waitaki River
Waitaki River was not unusually high.
References
- Catalogue of Severe Hail Storms, 1924 - 1986 and 1991 - 2006; Source: Neale
- Headline: Ashburton Celebrate Storm Anniversary with New Visitation.
- Otago Daily Times, 6 January 1958.
- Headline: North Otago Flooding.
- Otago Daily Times, 6 January 1958.
- Headline: Six families flood-bound.
- Otago Daily Times, 6 January 1958.
- Headline: Three Fronts Threatened.
- Otago Daily Times, 6 January 1958.
- Headline: Widespread Damage In City Caused By Downpour.
- Otago Daily Times, 6 January 1958.
- Owen, R.E. (1960). Hydrology Annual, No.6, 1958. Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand.