NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
January 2002 North Island and Upper South Island Thunderstorms
(
2002-01-09
)
100 years
Thunderstorms brought lightning, heavy rain and flooding to many parts of the North Island and upper South Island. Wellington and Hawke's Bay were the worst affected regions, with extreme rainfalls causing flooding of properties and streets. A person in Auckland was treated for an eye injury caused by a sewage overflow.
New Zealand
Multi Hazard
at
New Zealand
Duration: 2 days - From the 9th to the 10th of January.
A shallow trough of low pressure containing humid, unstable air and light, and convergent low-level winds.
North Island
Multi Hazard
at
North Island
Thunderstorms, some hail and surface flooding occurred over Wanganui, Manawatu, and the central and eastern North Island on the 9th/10th.
Unstable weather conditions generated a devastating storm that hit the lower North Island on the night of the 10th. A lot of afternoon convective thunderstorms had developed.
Auckland
Lightning
at
Auckland
Thunderstorms passed over Auckland overnight on the 9th/10th.
Heavy Rain
Heavy rain fell in Auckland overnight on the 9th/10th.
Heavy rain fell for 30 minutes between 8pm and 8:30pm on the 9th.
Auckland recieved 20 mm (2.0 cm) of rain on the night of the 9th.
Auckland received about 100 mm (10.0 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Flooding
Flash floods occurred in Auckland after torrential rain on the 9th.
Half Moon Bay and Howick were the most affected.
A person was treated by ambulance officers for "severe eye irritation" caused by a sewage overflow.
Multi Hazard
Firefighters received over 30 weather-related calls from St Heliers, Howick, Glen Innes and Half Moon Bay alone.
Flooding
at
Ellerslie
Flooding was reported on the Ellerslie-Panmure Highway.
Flooding
at
Glen Innes
There were reports from 7:30pm of surface flooding in Merton Road, Glen Innes.
Flooding
at
Half Moon Bay
Twelve homes in Half Moon Bay were flooded.
Flooding
at
Howick
A small creek overflowed and flooded Angelo Road in Howick.
Angelo Road was covered in up to 45 cm of water at the height of downpour.
Flooding
at
Otahuhu
Flooding carried sewage was into garages and laundries of an apartment block in Gillies Road, Otahuhu.
Landslide
at
Ponsonby
Two lanes of College Hill Road in Ponsonby were closed on the morning of the 10th due to subsidence. The hole was 3 m wide and about 2 m deep. The subsidence was caused by a stormwater pipe blowing out under pressure. Traffic had to be confined to one lane each way for the next seven days until the road was repaired.
Hail
at
Takapuna
Hail stones were reported on the North Shore.
Waikato
Heavy Rain
at
Hamilton
Hamilton recorded 33 mm (3.3 cm) of rain on the night of the 9th.
Hamilton received the most rain on in the night's downpour.
Landslide
at
Raglan
There was a 30-metre-long slip on Wainui Road, Raglan's main coast road. Part of the road slipped 7 m into a gully at around 6am on the 10th. At least 100 residents in Whale Bay were isolated from the town. A temporary road would cost about $5000 ($6000 2008 dollars), and it could cost up to $100,000 ($120,000 2008 dollars) to stabilise and rebuild the road.
The slip also broke a power cable and temporarily cut power to Manu Bay and Whale Bay.
The New Zealand Surfing Nationals in Manu Bay were delayed for two hours.
Bay of Plenty
Lightning
at
Tauranga
Tauranga was hit by thunderstorms on the 10th.
The roof of a house caught fire after it was hit by lightning.
Hawke's Bay
Flooding
at
Hawke's Bay
Heavy rain brought flooding to the Napier and Hastings area on the evening of the 10th.
Widespread surface flooding occurred.
Streets were turned into rivers and some were closed. Footpaths were damaged by flood waters.
Properties were damaged by flood waters.
Shops were flooded as stormwater systems were unable to cope.
Flooding caused power cuts.
It was described as a 100 year event (the second in a month).
Lightning
It was the region's worst electrical storm in years.
Multi Hazard
Duration: - The storm lasted for 90 minutes.
Heavy Rain
at
Bay View
Bay View recorded 13.3 mm (1.3 cm) of rain in 90 minutes on the 10th.
Heavy Rain
at
Chesterhope station
Chesterhope recorded 65 mm (6.5 cm) of rain in 45 minutes.
Heavy Rain
at
Clive
Clive recorded 32.6 mm (3.3 cm) of rain in 90 minutes on the 10th.
Heavy Rain
at
Hastings
Hastings recorded 77 mm (7.7 cm) of rain in 90 minutes on the 10th (Return Period well over 150 years).
Flooding
Many shops in Hastings were flooded.
Water was up to 100 mm (10 cm) deep in shops.
The Napier and Hastings city centres were flooded to a depth of 30 cm in some places.
Heavy Rain
at
Havelock North
Havelock North recorded 38.8 mm (3.9 cm) of rain in one hour on the 10th.
Havelock North recorded 59.4 mm (5.9 cm) of rain in 90 minutes on the 10th.
Havelock North was the hardest hit by Thursday night's torrential rain.
Heavy Rain
at
Napier
Napier was hit by a deluge at 9:30pm on the 10th.
Napier recorded 70 mm (7.0 cm) of rain in 90 minutes on the 10th (Return Period over 150 years).
Napier Airport recorded 29 mm (2.9 cm) of rain in one hour on the 10th.
Flooding
Many shops in Napier were flooded. Some hosues were flooded
Nearly 1000 consumers were without power for several hours after a transformer was flooded in Churchill Drive, Taradale.
Some streets were impassable due to surface floding.
Fire services had to pump out a Cinema 4 theatre after water entered the building.
Water was over 50 cm deep in an underground office complex.
A woman tried to drive round an upturned manhole cover and rushing water but hit a second cover, which pushed the car onto its side.
The Napier and Hastings city centres were flooded to a depth of 30 cm in some places.
Kingdom Music Napier was flooded and $90,000 ($110,000 2008 dollars) of electric guitars, amplifiers, and accessories were damaged.
Water caused over $30,000 ($36,000 2008 dollars) of damage to electrical equipment and fittings when it flooded both floors of the Electrotech Controls Napier Building.
Lightning
Lightning struck a house at Taradale.
Lightning struck one of the four light towers in McLean Park.
Multi Hazard
The damage was expected to run into millions of dollars.
Heavy Rain
at
Pakowhai
Pakowhai recorded 26.9 mm (2.7 cm) of rain in one hour on the 10th.
Pakowhai recorded 57.9 mm (5.8 cm) of rain in 90 minutes on the 10th.
Heavy Rain
at
Roys Hill
Roys Hill recorded 43.7 mm (4.4 cm) of rain in 90 minutes on the 10th.
Heavy Rain
at
Te Aute
Te Aute recorded 47.5 mm (4.8 cm) of rain in 90 minutes on the 10th.
Heavy Rain
at
Te Papa
Te Papa recorded 25.2 mm (2.5 cm) of rain in 90 minutes on the 10th.
Heavy Rain
at
Twyford
Twyford recorded 26.9 mm (2.7 cm) of rain in one hour on the 10th.
Twyford recorded 55.4 mm (5.5 cm) of rain in 90 minutes on the 10th.
Lightning
at
Waipukurau
An electrical storm formed near Waipukurau on the 10th and travelled north.
Manawatu-Wanganui
Multi Hazard
at
Manawatu-Wanganui
Thunderstorms, some hail and surface flooding occurred over Wanganui and Manawatu.
Flooding
at
Mangaweka
A railway wash out occurred at Mangaweka.
Wellington
Multi Hazard
at
Wellington
The Wellington Fire Service was flat out with calls about flooding about fire alarms set off by lightning.
The weather system was very localised. Some eastern and northern suburbs had negligible amounts of rain.
Likely sounding over Wellington showed the deep instability and high, ‘skinny’ CAPE characteristic of soundings within high rainfall storms. The low storm motion also contributed to high rainfall. The “straight-up-and-down” structure of storm points to low shears that prevailed over area, leading to intense rainfall over small area. The sea-breeze convergence zone was the trigger.
Insurance Industry Payouts for the Wellington / Wairarapa Flooding totalled $600,000 ($725,000 2008 dollars).
Lightning
A huge lightning and thunderstorm formed over Wellington city and suburbs just after 7pm on the 10th.
Television coverage to 2500 Wellington homes was out when lightning struck a translator.
There was also thunderstorm activity in Wairarapa.
Heavy Rain
Extremely localised torrential rainfall accompanied the storm.
Flooding
The worst flooding in recent history occurred.
Landslide
Three Wellington homes were evacauted due to a slip, which deemed the properties unstable.
Heavy Rain
at
Kelburn
Kelburn recorded over 50 mm (5.0 cm) of rain in less than one hour on the 10th (Return Period over 150 years).
Heavy Rain
at
Wellington City
Wellington recorded about 40 mm (4.0 cm) of rain in 30 minutes from 7:05pm on the 10th.
Wellington recorded 52 mm (5.2 cm) of rain in one hour on the 10th. This was more than half the city's average January rainfall of 81 mm (8.1 cm). It was said to be a 100-year deluge.
Flooding
Flash floods occurred in the city centre around 7pm.
Water was knee deep in Wakefield Street and other city streets.
Shops and buildings were flooded, including the central fire station.
There were 60 emergency calls related to the worst flooding in central city streets.
Scores of manhole covers were blown off roads.
Tasman-Nelson
Lightning
at
Tasman-Nelson
Thunderstorms hit the Nelson region on the night of the 10th.
Multi Hazard
100 people were ferried from Abel Tasman tracks and coastline.
Heavy Rain
at
Totaranui
Totaranui recorded 150 mm (15.0 cm) of rain in 12 hours on the 10th.
Flooding
80 campers were evacuated from a Totarunui camping ground.
The road from Totaranui to Takaka was closed.
West Coast
Lightning
at
West Coast
Thunderstorms hit much of the Buller region on the night of the 10th.
Otago
Multi Hazard
at
Otago
There were power cuts to the Clutha Region on the 10th.
Flooding
at
Waikouaiti River South Branch
Five trampers were rescued from the flooded Waikouiti River, near Dunedin.
References
- Headline: 53mm of rain falls in 30 minutes.
- The Evening Post, January 11 2002.
- Headline: Floods drive residents out.
- The Hawkes Bay Herald-Tribune, 10 January 2002.
- Headline: Deluge takes city by surprise.
- Hawkes Bay Today, 11 January 2002.
- Headline: Lightning storm swamps HB.
- Hawkes Bay Today, 11 January 2002.
- Headline: Streets turn into rivers.
- Hawkes Bay Today, 11 January 2002.
- Headline: Cleaners send SOS in wake of storm.
- Hawkes Bay Today, 12 January 2002.
- Hawkes Bay Regional Council: www.hbrc.govt.nz.
- Johnston, D.D.; Pearse, L.J. (2007). Hazards in Hawke's Bay. Hawke's Bay Regional Council, Napier, New Zealand.
- Major weather events in New Zealand, Floods and High Rainfall, Floods to 31 May 2006.
- www.metservice, notable weather events.govt.nz.
- Meteorological Society of New Zealand (Inc.) Newsletter 88, March 2002.
- Headline: Auckland road collapses following heavy rain.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 10 January 2002.
- Headline: Residents forced out as downpour starts floods.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 10 January 2002.
- Headline: Forecasters warn of deluge today.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 12 January 2002.
- Headline: North could get storms as Wellington and Hawke's Bay mop up.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 11 January 2002.
- Headline: Surf's up even if the main road is down.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZ Herald and NZPA, 11 January 2002.
- Headline: Month of weather extremes, from sunny days to flash floods.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 2 February 2002.
- New Zealand Meteorological Service. (2008). Meteorology of Extreme Rainfalls in New Zealand (Mark Pascoe, Ed.).
January 2002 North Island and Upper South Island Thunderstorms
(
2002-01-09
)
100 years
Thunderstorms brought lightning, heavy rain and flooding to many parts of the North Island and upper South Island. Wellington and Hawke's Bay were the worst affected regions, with extreme rainfalls causing flooding of properties and streets. A person in Auckland was treated for an eye injury caused by a sewage overflow.
New Zealand
Multi Hazard
at
New Zealand
Duration: 2 days - From the 9th to the 10th of January.
A shallow trough of low pressure containing humid, unstable air and light, and convergent low-level winds.
North Island
Multi Hazard
at
North Island
Thunderstorms, some hail and surface flooding occurred over Wanganui, Manawatu, and the central and eastern North Island on the 9th/10th.
Unstable weather conditions generated a devastating storm that hit the lower North Island on the night of the 10th. A lot of afternoon convective thunderstorms had developed.
Auckland
Lightning
at
Auckland
Thunderstorms passed over Auckland overnight on the 9th/10th.
Heavy Rain
Heavy rain fell in Auckland overnight on the 9th/10th.
Heavy rain fell for 30 minutes between 8pm and 8:30pm on the 9th.
Auckland recieved 20 mm (2.0 cm) of rain on the night of the 9th.
Auckland received about 100 mm (10.0 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Flooding
Flash floods occurred in Auckland after torrential rain on the 9th.
Half Moon Bay and Howick were the most affected.
A person was treated by ambulance officers for "severe eye irritation" caused by a sewage overflow.
Multi Hazard
Firefighters received over 30 weather-related calls from St Heliers, Howick, Glen Innes and Half Moon Bay alone.
Flooding
at
Ellerslie
Flooding was reported on the Ellerslie-Panmure Highway.
Flooding
at
Glen Innes
There were reports from 7:30pm of surface flooding in Merton Road, Glen Innes.
Flooding
at
Half Moon Bay
Twelve homes in Half Moon Bay were flooded.
Flooding
at
Howick
A small creek overflowed and flooded Angelo Road in Howick.
Angelo Road was covered in up to 45 cm of water at the height of downpour.
Flooding
at
Otahuhu
Flooding carried sewage was into garages and laundries of an apartment block in Gillies Road, Otahuhu.
Landslide
at
Ponsonby
Two lanes of College Hill Road in Ponsonby were closed on the morning of the 10th due to subsidence. The hole was 3 m wide and about 2 m deep. The subsidence was caused by a stormwater pipe blowing out under pressure. Traffic had to be confined to one lane each way for the next seven days until the road was repaired.
Hail
at
Takapuna
Hail stones were reported on the North Shore.
Waikato
Heavy Rain
at
Hamilton
Hamilton recorded 33 mm (3.3 cm) of rain on the night of the 9th.
Hamilton received the most rain on in the night's downpour.
Landslide
at
Raglan
There was a 30-metre-long slip on Wainui Road, Raglan's main coast road. Part of the road slipped 7 m into a gully at around 6am on the 10th. At least 100 residents in Whale Bay were isolated from the town. A temporary road would cost about $5000 ($6000 2008 dollars), and it could cost up to $100,000 ($120,000 2008 dollars) to stabilise and rebuild the road.
The slip also broke a power cable and temporarily cut power to Manu Bay and Whale Bay.
The New Zealand Surfing Nationals in Manu Bay were delayed for two hours.
Bay of Plenty
Lightning
at
Tauranga
Tauranga was hit by thunderstorms on the 10th.
The roof of a house caught fire after it was hit by lightning.
Hawke's Bay
Flooding
at
Hawke's Bay
Heavy rain brought flooding to the Napier and Hastings area on the evening of the 10th.
Widespread surface flooding occurred.
Streets were turned into rivers and some were closed. Footpaths were damaged by flood waters.
Properties were damaged by flood waters.
Shops were flooded as stormwater systems were unable to cope.
Flooding caused power cuts.
It was described as a 100 year event (the second in a month).
Lightning
It was the region's worst electrical storm in years.
Multi Hazard
Duration: - The storm lasted for 90 minutes.
Heavy Rain
at
Bay View
Bay View recorded 13.3 mm (1.3 cm) of rain in 90 minutes on the 10th.
Heavy Rain
at
Chesterhope station
Chesterhope recorded 65 mm (6.5 cm) of rain in 45 minutes.
Heavy Rain
at
Clive
Clive recorded 32.6 mm (3.3 cm) of rain in 90 minutes on the 10th.
Heavy Rain
at
Hastings
Hastings recorded 77 mm (7.7 cm) of rain in 90 minutes on the 10th (Return Period well over 150 years).
Flooding
Many shops in Hastings were flooded.
Water was up to 100 mm (10 cm) deep in shops.
The Napier and Hastings city centres were flooded to a depth of 30 cm in some places.
Heavy Rain
at
Havelock North
Havelock North recorded 38.8 mm (3.9 cm) of rain in one hour on the 10th.
Havelock North recorded 59.4 mm (5.9 cm) of rain in 90 minutes on the 10th.
Havelock North was the hardest hit by Thursday night's torrential rain.
Heavy Rain
at
Napier
Napier was hit by a deluge at 9:30pm on the 10th.
Napier recorded 70 mm (7.0 cm) of rain in 90 minutes on the 10th (Return Period over 150 years).
Napier Airport recorded 29 mm (2.9 cm) of rain in one hour on the 10th.
Flooding
Many shops in Napier were flooded. Some hosues were flooded
Nearly 1000 consumers were without power for several hours after a transformer was flooded in Churchill Drive, Taradale.
Some streets were impassable due to surface floding.
Fire services had to pump out a Cinema 4 theatre after water entered the building.
Water was over 50 cm deep in an underground office complex.
A woman tried to drive round an upturned manhole cover and rushing water but hit a second cover, which pushed the car onto its side.
The Napier and Hastings city centres were flooded to a depth of 30 cm in some places.
Kingdom Music Napier was flooded and $90,000 ($110,000 2008 dollars) of electric guitars, amplifiers, and accessories were damaged.
Water caused over $30,000 ($36,000 2008 dollars) of damage to electrical equipment and fittings when it flooded both floors of the Electrotech Controls Napier Building.
Lightning
Lightning struck a house at Taradale.
Lightning struck one of the four light towers in McLean Park.
Multi Hazard
The damage was expected to run into millions of dollars.
Heavy Rain
at
Pakowhai
Pakowhai recorded 26.9 mm (2.7 cm) of rain in one hour on the 10th.
Pakowhai recorded 57.9 mm (5.8 cm) of rain in 90 minutes on the 10th.
Heavy Rain
at
Roys Hill
Roys Hill recorded 43.7 mm (4.4 cm) of rain in 90 minutes on the 10th.
Heavy Rain
at
Te Aute
Te Aute recorded 47.5 mm (4.8 cm) of rain in 90 minutes on the 10th.
Heavy Rain
at
Te Papa
Te Papa recorded 25.2 mm (2.5 cm) of rain in 90 minutes on the 10th.
Heavy Rain
at
Twyford
Twyford recorded 26.9 mm (2.7 cm) of rain in one hour on the 10th.
Twyford recorded 55.4 mm (5.5 cm) of rain in 90 minutes on the 10th.
Lightning
at
Waipukurau
An electrical storm formed near Waipukurau on the 10th and travelled north.
Manawatu-Wanganui
Multi Hazard
at
Manawatu-Wanganui
Thunderstorms, some hail and surface flooding occurred over Wanganui and Manawatu.
Flooding
at
Mangaweka
A railway wash out occurred at Mangaweka.
Wellington
Multi Hazard
at
Wellington
The Wellington Fire Service was flat out with calls about flooding about fire alarms set off by lightning.
The weather system was very localised. Some eastern and northern suburbs had negligible amounts of rain.
Likely sounding over Wellington showed the deep instability and high, ‘skinny’ CAPE characteristic of soundings within high rainfall storms. The low storm motion also contributed to high rainfall. The “straight-up-and-down” structure of storm points to low shears that prevailed over area, leading to intense rainfall over small area. The sea-breeze convergence zone was the trigger.
Insurance Industry Payouts for the Wellington / Wairarapa Flooding totalled $600,000 ($725,000 2008 dollars).
Lightning
A huge lightning and thunderstorm formed over Wellington city and suburbs just after 7pm on the 10th.
Television coverage to 2500 Wellington homes was out when lightning struck a translator.
There was also thunderstorm activity in Wairarapa.
Heavy Rain
Extremely localised torrential rainfall accompanied the storm.
Flooding
The worst flooding in recent history occurred.
Landslide
Three Wellington homes were evacauted due to a slip, which deemed the properties unstable.
Heavy Rain
at
Kelburn
Kelburn recorded over 50 mm (5.0 cm) of rain in less than one hour on the 10th (Return Period over 150 years).
Heavy Rain
at
Wellington City
Wellington recorded about 40 mm (4.0 cm) of rain in 30 minutes from 7:05pm on the 10th.
Wellington recorded 52 mm (5.2 cm) of rain in one hour on the 10th. This was more than half the city's average January rainfall of 81 mm (8.1 cm). It was said to be a 100-year deluge.
Flooding
Flash floods occurred in the city centre around 7pm.
Water was knee deep in Wakefield Street and other city streets.
Shops and buildings were flooded, including the central fire station.
There were 60 emergency calls related to the worst flooding in central city streets.
Scores of manhole covers were blown off roads.
Tasman-Nelson
Lightning
at
Tasman-Nelson
Thunderstorms hit the Nelson region on the night of the 10th.
Multi Hazard
100 people were ferried from Abel Tasman tracks and coastline.
Heavy Rain
at
Totaranui
Totaranui recorded 150 mm (15.0 cm) of rain in 12 hours on the 10th.
Flooding
80 campers were evacuated from a Totarunui camping ground.
The road from Totaranui to Takaka was closed.
West Coast
Lightning
at
West Coast
Thunderstorms hit much of the Buller region on the night of the 10th.
Otago
Multi Hazard
at
Otago
There were power cuts to the Clutha Region on the 10th.
Flooding
at
Waikouaiti River South Branch
Five trampers were rescued from the flooded Waikouiti River, near Dunedin.
References
- Headline: 53mm of rain falls in 30 minutes.
- The Evening Post, January 11 2002.
- Headline: Floods drive residents out.
- The Hawkes Bay Herald-Tribune, 10 January 2002.
- Headline: Deluge takes city by surprise.
- Hawkes Bay Today, 11 January 2002.
- Headline: Lightning storm swamps HB.
- Hawkes Bay Today, 11 January 2002.
- Headline: Streets turn into rivers.
- Hawkes Bay Today, 11 January 2002.
- Headline: Cleaners send SOS in wake of storm.
- Hawkes Bay Today, 12 January 2002.
- Hawkes Bay Regional Council: www.hbrc.govt.nz.
- Johnston, D.D.; Pearse, L.J. (2007). Hazards in Hawke's Bay. Hawke's Bay Regional Council, Napier, New Zealand.
- Major weather events in New Zealand, Floods and High Rainfall, Floods to 31 May 2006.
- www.metservice, notable weather events.govt.nz.
- Meteorological Society of New Zealand (Inc.) Newsletter 88, March 2002.
- Headline: Auckland road collapses following heavy rain.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 10 January 2002.
- Headline: Residents forced out as downpour starts floods.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 10 January 2002.
- Headline: Forecasters warn of deluge today.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 12 January 2002.
- Headline: North could get storms as Wellington and Hawke's Bay mop up.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 11 January 2002.
- Headline: Surf's up even if the main road is down.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZ Herald and NZPA, 11 January 2002.
- Headline: Month of weather extremes, from sunny days to flash floods.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 2 February 2002.
- New Zealand Meteorological Service. (2008). Meteorology of Extreme Rainfalls in New Zealand (Mark Pascoe, Ed.).