NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
January 1977 Otago Flooding ( 1977-01-26 )
Intense rain over an afternoon caused flooding in Oamaru and flooding to a lesser extent in Dunedin.
Otago
Heavy Rain
at
Oamaru
Awamoa Road on South Hill recorded 1.8cm of rain on the 26th.
Weston Road, west of Oamaru, recorded 4.5cm of rain on the 26th.
Usk Street, on the flat, recorded 3.0cm of rain on the 26th.
There was torrential rain in and around Oamaru shortly before 2pm on the 26th which caused widespread flooding in less than one hour.
Flooding
Traffic was disrupted. State Highway 1 was closed at Severn Street in the south of town and traffic flow was confined to a single lane to the north.
Water poured through many houses and flooded shops and grain stores.
At one stage civil defence organisation met to consider the situation.
The downpour was remarkably localised. There was heavy rain at Totara, 8 km south of Oamaru, but no rain at Pukeuri, which is 8 km north of Oamaru.
Rainfall in Oamaru itself was variable.
There were large flooded areas on all intersections with Thames Street and Thames Highway.
Water lay on roads from gutter to gutter and in some places was up to 60cm deep. Street flooding was mainly caused by stormwater system being filled to capacity. Manholes in many parts of the borough were blown open by the pressure.
The traffic was backed up by as much as five blocks at either end of town.
During the height of the downpour, speeds on the road was restricted to 20kmh as wipers unable to keep windscreens clear. The Ministry of Transport and police patrolled roads.
Oamaru Fire Brigade received approximately 20 calls for assistance in pumping water from properties.
Water entered many homes throughout the borough as guttering was unable to cope.
The worst hit area in Oamaru was at the north end of Nore Street.
The torrential rain sluiced shingle down Ashburn Street into Nore and Clare Streets.
One house on the corner of Clare and Nore Streets was in direct path of a sea of mud which washed over the gutter. It deposited up to 60cm of debris against one side wall of the building.
There was extensive flooding in Cambridge Terrace and Perth Street, on South Hill.
At Weston, one resident reported 8cm of water flowing through his house.
Premises of the town that flooded were: the laundry at the hospital, a small section of appliance room at Oamaru fire station, D. J. Early's at north end, Knitters Wool Shop, Oamaru Furnishing Centre (damage to bedding resulted in more than $1000) and Haywrights and Robertson's Hardware.
There was some loss of stock in grain stores.
Alliance Textiles' mill was a swamp in a number of departments and production was affected for a couple of hours.
Pits in Gillies' Garage were filled quickly and water lay on floor of car and home appliance show rooms.
Late on the night of the 26th, the Old Mill Rd on Oamaru's western boundary was closed because of flooding.
Heavy Rain
at
Incholme
Incholme recorded 4.0cm of rain on the 26th.
Heavy Rain
at
Maheno
Maheno had an estimated 10.0cm of rain on the 26th.
Heavy rain hit Maheno at 12:15pm on the 26th.
Lightning
Heavy fall was accompanied by a spectacular lightning display.
Flooding
Water poured into Maheno tavern to depth of 10cm when the guttering was unable to cope.
Flooding occurred within two or three minutes.
Heavy Rain
at
Totara
Totara recorded 12.7cm of rain on the 26th.
The heaviest fall was recorded at Totara.
Flooding
Water gushed down side streets in town and sumps were unable to cope.
Heavy Rain
at
Dunedin
Andersons Bay recorded 1.25cm of rain in one hour on the 26th.
Andersons Bay recorded 1.7cm of rain by 6pm on the 26th.
Musselborough recorded 0.9cm of rain by 9pm on the 26th.
Flooding
A downpour caused flash flooding in Dunedin and surrounding districts as drains were blocked, spilling water onto many roads.
Driving conditions were treacherous on both sides of the harbour as loose gravel and debris was deposited by flood waters on roads.
A blocked drain caused flooding under Sawyers Bay bridge.
In most areas water drained away not long after main downpour in mid-afternoon.
Major flooding in the city occurred in the south-east suburbs, where some roads were almost covered by water.
A number of drain covers were damaged. Some storm-water creeks coming off the side of hill at St. Clair turned into raging torrents in minutes.
There were approximately 40 appeals for assistance received by Dunedin Drainage Board.
Rainfall appeared to vary greatly between different parts of the city.
Heavy rain fell in Andersons Bay, Caversham, St. Clair and St. Kilda.
Rain slowed preparations for Otago A and P show at Tahuna Park. Firemen had to pump around 15cm of water from the middle of the pavillion.
Landslide
There were some minor slips on Port Chalmers Road.
References
- Headline: City Escapes Lightly.
- Otago Daily Times, 27 January 1977.
- Headline: Torrential Rain Causes Flooding Round Oamaru.
- Otago Daily Times, 27 January 1977.
January 1977 Otago Flooding ( 1977-01-26 )
Intense rain over an afternoon caused flooding in Oamaru and flooding to a lesser extent in Dunedin.
Otago
Heavy Rain
at
Oamaru
Awamoa Road on South Hill recorded 1.8cm of rain on the 26th.
Weston Road, west of Oamaru, recorded 4.5cm of rain on the 26th.
Usk Street, on the flat, recorded 3.0cm of rain on the 26th.
There was torrential rain in and around Oamaru shortly before 2pm on the 26th which caused widespread flooding in less than one hour.
Flooding
Traffic was disrupted. State Highway 1 was closed at Severn Street in the south of town and traffic flow was confined to a single lane to the north.
Water poured through many houses and flooded shops and grain stores.
At one stage civil defence organisation met to consider the situation.
The downpour was remarkably localised. There was heavy rain at Totara, 8 km south of Oamaru, but no rain at Pukeuri, which is 8 km north of Oamaru.
Rainfall in Oamaru itself was variable.
There were large flooded areas on all intersections with Thames Street and Thames Highway.
Water lay on roads from gutter to gutter and in some places was up to 60cm deep. Street flooding was mainly caused by stormwater system being filled to capacity. Manholes in many parts of the borough were blown open by the pressure.
The traffic was backed up by as much as five blocks at either end of town.
During the height of the downpour, speeds on the road was restricted to 20kmh as wipers unable to keep windscreens clear. The Ministry of Transport and police patrolled roads.
Oamaru Fire Brigade received approximately 20 calls for assistance in pumping water from properties.
Water entered many homes throughout the borough as guttering was unable to cope.
The worst hit area in Oamaru was at the north end of Nore Street.
The torrential rain sluiced shingle down Ashburn Street into Nore and Clare Streets.
One house on the corner of Clare and Nore Streets was in direct path of a sea of mud which washed over the gutter. It deposited up to 60cm of debris against one side wall of the building.
There was extensive flooding in Cambridge Terrace and Perth Street, on South Hill.
At Weston, one resident reported 8cm of water flowing through his house.
Premises of the town that flooded were: the laundry at the hospital, a small section of appliance room at Oamaru fire station, D. J. Early's at north end, Knitters Wool Shop, Oamaru Furnishing Centre (damage to bedding resulted in more than $1000) and Haywrights and Robertson's Hardware.
There was some loss of stock in grain stores.
Alliance Textiles' mill was a swamp in a number of departments and production was affected for a couple of hours.
Pits in Gillies' Garage were filled quickly and water lay on floor of car and home appliance show rooms.
Late on the night of the 26th, the Old Mill Rd on Oamaru's western boundary was closed because of flooding.
Heavy Rain
at
Incholme
Incholme recorded 4.0cm of rain on the 26th.
Heavy Rain
at
Maheno
Maheno had an estimated 10.0cm of rain on the 26th.
Heavy rain hit Maheno at 12:15pm on the 26th.
Lightning
Heavy fall was accompanied by a spectacular lightning display.
Flooding
Water poured into Maheno tavern to depth of 10cm when the guttering was unable to cope.
Flooding occurred within two or three minutes.
Heavy Rain
at
Totara
Totara recorded 12.7cm of rain on the 26th.
The heaviest fall was recorded at Totara.
Flooding
Water gushed down side streets in town and sumps were unable to cope.
Heavy Rain
at
Dunedin
Andersons Bay recorded 1.25cm of rain in one hour on the 26th.
Andersons Bay recorded 1.7cm of rain by 6pm on the 26th.
Musselborough recorded 0.9cm of rain by 9pm on the 26th.
Flooding
A downpour caused flash flooding in Dunedin and surrounding districts as drains were blocked, spilling water onto many roads.
Driving conditions were treacherous on both sides of the harbour as loose gravel and debris was deposited by flood waters on roads.
A blocked drain caused flooding under Sawyers Bay bridge.
In most areas water drained away not long after main downpour in mid-afternoon.
Major flooding in the city occurred in the south-east suburbs, where some roads were almost covered by water.
A number of drain covers were damaged. Some storm-water creeks coming off the side of hill at St. Clair turned into raging torrents in minutes.
There were approximately 40 appeals for assistance received by Dunedin Drainage Board.
Rainfall appeared to vary greatly between different parts of the city.
Heavy rain fell in Andersons Bay, Caversham, St. Clair and St. Kilda.
Rain slowed preparations for Otago A and P show at Tahuna Park. Firemen had to pump around 15cm of water from the middle of the pavillion.
Landslide
There were some minor slips on Port Chalmers Road.
References
- Headline: City Escapes Lightly.
- Otago Daily Times, 27 January 1977.
- Headline: Torrential Rain Causes Flooding Round Oamaru.
- Otago Daily Times, 27 January 1977.