NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
July 1995 New Zealand Flooding and Snow ( 1995-07-14 )
New Zealand
Multi Hazard
Duration: 5 days - From the 14th till the 18th.
The cold weather was caused by a change in the circulation pattern in the area south of Australia and the Tasman Sea, which directed a steady flow of very cold air from near the Antarctic over New Zealand, striking Invercargill first. The cold was triggered by a substantial depression to the south and east of the country, which brought a south-westerly air flow.
North Island
Snow / Ice
at
North Island
There were widespread snowfalls to sea level in eastern places from Wellington to Gisborne from the 14th till the 18th.
South Island
Snow / Ice
at
South Island
There were heavy snowfalls in Otago and Southland.
Overall, it was the coldest July for the South Island since 1968.
Snow lay to low levels in southern parts of the South Island for 15 days.
Waikato
Maritime / Coastal
at
Waikato
A storm surge flooded Moanataiari, Grahamstown, Miranda and Waitakaruru on the 14th.
Multi Hazard
Damage was caused by the combination of rain and high tide.
A Civil Defence Emergency was declared for Thames Valley,Thames Ward and Plains Ward from 9:15pm on the 14th until 3:30pm on the 15th.
30 people were evacuated.
Coromandel Peninsula was isolated for a period of time.
The water supply to Pauanui and Whitianga was cut off.
Approximately 200 insurance claims were made.
Insurance industry payouts totalled $2,800,000 ($3,779,800 2008 dollars).
The damage totalled $4 million ($5,399,700 2008 dollars).
Damage to small holdings was $5000 ($6700 2008 dollars), to beef was $42,600 ($57,500 2008 dollars), to dry beef was $81,000 ($109,300 2008 dollars) and to dairy was $105,000 ($141,700 2008 dollars) - a total of $233,600 ($315,300 2008 dollars).
Flooding
at
Hamilton
The Waikato River at Hamilton had a peak flow of 520 cumecs on the 13th (Return Period 5 years).
Heavy Rain
at
Mangatangi
Mangatangi recorded 227 mm (22.7 cm) of rain from the 1st to the 18th of July.
Flooding
at
Ngaruawahia
The Waikato River at Ngaruawahia had a peak flow of 1025 cumecs on the 16th (Return Period 25 years).
Heavy Rain
at
Onewhero
Onewhero recorded 141.4 mm (14.1 cm) of rain from the 1st to the 18th of July.
Flooding
at
Otorohanga
The Waipa River at Otorohanga had a peak flow of 225 cumecs on the 15th (Return Period 2 years).
Flooding
at
Rangiriri
The Waikato River at Rangiriri had a peak flow of 1105 cumecs on the 16th (Return Period 56 years).
Maritime / Coastal
at
Tararu
At Tararu, the first high tide on the 14th was 1.61 m hindcast, relative to the Tararu MSL datum.
At Tararu, the second high tide on the 14th was 1.77 m hindcast, relative to the Tararu MSL datum.
At Tararu, the first high tide on the 15th was 1.62 m hindcast, relative to the Tararu MSL datum.
At Tararu, the second high tide on the 15th was 1.74 m hindcast, relative to the Tararu MSL datum.
Heavy Rain
at
Te Kuiti
Te Kuiti recorded 175.2 mm (17.5 cm) of rain from the 1st to the 18th of July.
Multi Hazard
at
Thames
About 25 homes were evacuated on the Thames coast.
300 Thames homes were without power.
Seven people were taken to hospital.
More than $3 million ($4,049,800 2008 dollars) of damage was done.
Flooding
In some houses there was up to 60 cm of water.
Maritime / Coastal
The storm surge measured 2.5 m.
Flooding
at
Whatawhata
The Waipa River at Whatawhata had a peak flow of 540 cumecs on the 16th (Return Period 5 years).
Bay of Plenty
Snow / Ice
at
Rotorua
Snow lay in Rotorua for the first time in living memory.
Wellington
Snow / Ice
at
Wellington
The snowfall on the 17th was the biggest snowfall to affect the northern Wellington hill suburbs, particularly Johnsonville and Newlands.
Icy roads created difficulties for motorists.
Snow / Ice
at
Rimutaka Hill
20 vehicles were snowed in for several hours on the Rimutaka Road.
Canterbury
Snow / Ice
at
Christchurch
Christchurch had its lowest July average for a decade, with a mean temperature of 4.5 degC.
Otago
Snow / Ice
at
Dunedin
Dunedin Airport was closed.
Snow / Ice
at
Lauder
Lauder recorded its lowest air temperature of -19.3 degC during July.
Snow / Ice
at
Queenstown
Queenstown had its third coldest July on record.
Queenstown recorded its lowest air temperature of -8.4 degC during July.
Queenstown Airport recorded its lowest air temperature of -12.2 degC during July.
Queenstown Airport was closed.
Snow / Ice
at
Wanaka
Wanaka recorded its lowest air temperature of -8.6 degC during July.
Snow / Ice
at
Wanaka Aerodrome
Wanaka Airport had its coldest July on record.
Southland
Snow / Ice
at
Gore
Gore had its coldest July on record.
Snow / Ice
at
Invercargill
July 1995 was Invercargill's coldest July on record.
Invercargill had an average temperature of 2.9 degC during the month - the coldest recorded at the airport since records began in 1940.
There were 21 heavy frosts during the month.
The frosts played havoc with roads around Invercargill.
Snow fell 10 times in the city during the month, a record, but the falls were not significant.
Multi Hazard
Invercargill experienced both rain and bitterley low temperatures during July.
The lowest sea level air pressure on record was measured.
Heavy Rain
Invercargill received 172.8 mm (17.3 cm) of rain in the month of July - more than double its July average.
Invercargill received 85 mm (8.5 cm) of rain between the 6th and 10th.
Hail
It hailed 13 times during the month.
High Wind / Gust
A gale blew three times during the month.
References
- Author Unknown. (2004). The Hauraki Gulf: State of the Environment Report 2004. Chapter 10: Coastal Hazards of the Gulf.
- Bell, R.G.; Hill, A.F. (1997). Tidal and meteorological conditions for previous major sea storms at Thames.
- Environment Waikato, Lower Waikato River Report of Flood Event, 17 July 1995, Final Report.
- Fraser, A. (2002). Weather hazards. 45°S Weather Services Ltd, Invercargill.
- Insurance Councils, The Cost of Weather Loses, Claims history (Updated 2004).
- Headline: City cold, sunny and dry.
- The Mail, 10 August 1995.
- Major weather events in New Zealand, Snowstorms to 14th June 2006.
- MCDEM, 2002.
- Munro, A.J.; Chapman, M.G.. (1998). Waikato Regional Flood Event of 9-20 July 1998. Environment Waikato Technical Report 1998/15.
- Headline: Worst-kept weather secret confirmed.
- The Southland Times, ?? August 1995.
- State of Emergency Declarations in the district since 1976, Environment Waikato.
- Waikato Regional Council, (1995). Lower Waikato River Report of Flood Event 17 July 1995, Final Report.
- Headline: Thames on alert as sea chews coastline.
- The Waikato Times, 15 July 1995.
July 1995 New Zealand Flooding and Snow ( 1995-07-14 )
New Zealand
Multi Hazard
Duration: 5 days - From the 14th till the 18th.
The cold weather was caused by a change in the circulation pattern in the area south of Australia and the Tasman Sea, which directed a steady flow of very cold air from near the Antarctic over New Zealand, striking Invercargill first. The cold was triggered by a substantial depression to the south and east of the country, which brought a south-westerly air flow.
North Island
Snow / Ice
at
North Island
There were widespread snowfalls to sea level in eastern places from Wellington to Gisborne from the 14th till the 18th.
South Island
Snow / Ice
at
South Island
There were heavy snowfalls in Otago and Southland.
Overall, it was the coldest July for the South Island since 1968.
Snow lay to low levels in southern parts of the South Island for 15 days.
Waikato
Maritime / Coastal
at
Waikato
A storm surge flooded Moanataiari, Grahamstown, Miranda and Waitakaruru on the 14th.
Multi Hazard
Damage was caused by the combination of rain and high tide.
A Civil Defence Emergency was declared for Thames Valley,Thames Ward and Plains Ward from 9:15pm on the 14th until 3:30pm on the 15th.
30 people were evacuated.
Coromandel Peninsula was isolated for a period of time.
The water supply to Pauanui and Whitianga was cut off.
Approximately 200 insurance claims were made.
Insurance industry payouts totalled $2,800,000 ($3,779,800 2008 dollars).
The damage totalled $4 million ($5,399,700 2008 dollars).
Damage to small holdings was $5000 ($6700 2008 dollars), to beef was $42,600 ($57,500 2008 dollars), to dry beef was $81,000 ($109,300 2008 dollars) and to dairy was $105,000 ($141,700 2008 dollars) - a total of $233,600 ($315,300 2008 dollars).
Flooding
at
Hamilton
The Waikato River at Hamilton had a peak flow of 520 cumecs on the 13th (Return Period 5 years).
Heavy Rain
at
Mangatangi
Mangatangi recorded 227 mm (22.7 cm) of rain from the 1st to the 18th of July.
Flooding
at
Ngaruawahia
The Waikato River at Ngaruawahia had a peak flow of 1025 cumecs on the 16th (Return Period 25 years).
Heavy Rain
at
Onewhero
Onewhero recorded 141.4 mm (14.1 cm) of rain from the 1st to the 18th of July.
Flooding
at
Otorohanga
The Waipa River at Otorohanga had a peak flow of 225 cumecs on the 15th (Return Period 2 years).
Flooding
at
Rangiriri
The Waikato River at Rangiriri had a peak flow of 1105 cumecs on the 16th (Return Period 56 years).
Maritime / Coastal
at
Tararu
At Tararu, the first high tide on the 14th was 1.61 m hindcast, relative to the Tararu MSL datum.
At Tararu, the second high tide on the 14th was 1.77 m hindcast, relative to the Tararu MSL datum.
At Tararu, the first high tide on the 15th was 1.62 m hindcast, relative to the Tararu MSL datum.
At Tararu, the second high tide on the 15th was 1.74 m hindcast, relative to the Tararu MSL datum.
Heavy Rain
at
Te Kuiti
Te Kuiti recorded 175.2 mm (17.5 cm) of rain from the 1st to the 18th of July.
Multi Hazard
at
Thames
About 25 homes were evacuated on the Thames coast.
300 Thames homes were without power.
Seven people were taken to hospital.
More than $3 million ($4,049,800 2008 dollars) of damage was done.
Flooding
In some houses there was up to 60 cm of water.
Maritime / Coastal
The storm surge measured 2.5 m.
Flooding
at
Whatawhata
The Waipa River at Whatawhata had a peak flow of 540 cumecs on the 16th (Return Period 5 years).
Bay of Plenty
Snow / Ice
at
Rotorua
Snow lay in Rotorua for the first time in living memory.
Wellington
Snow / Ice
at
Wellington
The snowfall on the 17th was the biggest snowfall to affect the northern Wellington hill suburbs, particularly Johnsonville and Newlands.
Icy roads created difficulties for motorists.
Snow / Ice
at
Rimutaka Hill
20 vehicles were snowed in for several hours on the Rimutaka Road.
Canterbury
Snow / Ice
at
Christchurch
Christchurch had its lowest July average for a decade, with a mean temperature of 4.5 degC.
Otago
Snow / Ice
at
Dunedin
Dunedin Airport was closed.
Snow / Ice
at
Lauder
Lauder recorded its lowest air temperature of -19.3 degC during July.
Snow / Ice
at
Queenstown
Queenstown had its third coldest July on record.
Queenstown recorded its lowest air temperature of -8.4 degC during July.
Queenstown Airport recorded its lowest air temperature of -12.2 degC during July.
Queenstown Airport was closed.
Snow / Ice
at
Wanaka
Wanaka recorded its lowest air temperature of -8.6 degC during July.
Snow / Ice
at
Wanaka Aerodrome
Wanaka Airport had its coldest July on record.
Southland
Snow / Ice
at
Gore
Gore had its coldest July on record.
Snow / Ice
at
Invercargill
July 1995 was Invercargill's coldest July on record.
Invercargill had an average temperature of 2.9 degC during the month - the coldest recorded at the airport since records began in 1940.
There were 21 heavy frosts during the month.
The frosts played havoc with roads around Invercargill.
Snow fell 10 times in the city during the month, a record, but the falls were not significant.
Multi Hazard
Invercargill experienced both rain and bitterley low temperatures during July.
The lowest sea level air pressure on record was measured.
Heavy Rain
Invercargill received 172.8 mm (17.3 cm) of rain in the month of July - more than double its July average.
Invercargill received 85 mm (8.5 cm) of rain between the 6th and 10th.
Hail
It hailed 13 times during the month.
High Wind / Gust
A gale blew three times during the month.
References
- Author Unknown. (2004). The Hauraki Gulf: State of the Environment Report 2004. Chapter 10: Coastal Hazards of the Gulf.
- Bell, R.G.; Hill, A.F. (1997). Tidal and meteorological conditions for previous major sea storms at Thames.
- Environment Waikato, Lower Waikato River Report of Flood Event, 17 July 1995, Final Report.
- Fraser, A. (2002). Weather hazards. 45°S Weather Services Ltd, Invercargill.
- Insurance Councils, The Cost of Weather Loses, Claims history (Updated 2004).
- Headline: City cold, sunny and dry.
- The Mail, 10 August 1995.
- Major weather events in New Zealand, Snowstorms to 14th June 2006.
- MCDEM, 2002.
- Munro, A.J.; Chapman, M.G.. (1998). Waikato Regional Flood Event of 9-20 July 1998. Environment Waikato Technical Report 1998/15.
- Headline: Worst-kept weather secret confirmed.
- The Southland Times, ?? August 1995.
- State of Emergency Declarations in the district since 1976, Environment Waikato.
- Waikato Regional Council, (1995). Lower Waikato River Report of Flood Event 17 July 1995, Final Report.
- Headline: Thames on alert as sea chews coastline.
- The Waikato Times, 15 July 1995.