NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
June 1968 Otago Flooding
(
1968-06-06
)
Otago experienced heavy rainfall on the eastern side of the Horse Range, Kakanui Mountains and along the eastern faces of the Rock and Pillar Range behind Middlemarch and at the back of the Waikouaiti River. This lead to flooding in Oamaru and Maheno.
Otago
Heavy Rain
at
Otago
A complex depression moved from the south-west to the north-east. East to south east winds around the southern side of this depression caused extremely heavy rainfall in the coastal and hinterland areas of North Otago.
The highest rainfall was on the eastern side of the Horse Range and Kakanui Mountains.
Other isolated areas of heavy rain were along the eastern faces of the Rock and Pillar Range, behind Middlemarch, and at the back of the Waikaouaiti River.
Flooding
State Highway 1 was blocked by 2 ft (0.61 m) of water at Maheno and Hampden.
The road between the Pukeuri and the Waitaki River was blocked by water.
State Highway 83 from Oamaru to Kurow was blocked at Peebles and Papakaio by water.
Damage was confined to the Taieri, Tokomairiro and Kakanui catchment. Coastal tributaries between Hampden and the Waitaki River were all in high flood
There were many cases of flooding, bank erosion and road damage.
From Herbert to Hampden, floodwaters were 1.2 m deep over State Highway 1.
Rivers and streams were running high in North Otago.
Heavy Rain
at
Dunedin
Dunedin City recorded over 2.5 in (6.35 cm) of rain during the week.
Flooding
at
East Taieri
In the East Taieri area, there was flooding in the area from the Taieri River. The flooding covered an area of 1300 ha.
Flooding
at
Incholme
Incholme was isolated. Many other country farmhouses and settlements were isolated by the floodwaters.
Flooding
at
Island Stream
There was very extensive flooding in the catchment, with fences damaged and destroyed and willows uprooted.
There was some scouring of paddocks and considerable soil loss.
Flooding
at
Kakanui River
The flood in the Kakanui River was one of the highest on record and was exceeded only by the 1892 flood.
Very severe damage in excess of that for the flood of 1961 was experienced on the Kakanui, particularly above Maheno.
Extensive damage occurred near Gemmell's Crossing bridge where flood waters overtopped the embankment leading to the bridge.
Some banks of the Kakanui River, below Maheno, were overtopped causing destruction to winter feed.
Flooding
at
Kokonga
The area was extensively flooded and the Taieri River and the Swinburn were in high flood.
County roads and State Highway 87 were underwater.
Flooding
at
Lindis Pass
Roads were impassable.
Flooding
at
Maheno
Three families were evacuated.
One family had 4 ft (1.22 m) of water through their house.
At Maheno, the bowling green was flooded.
At Clark's Floor Mill, there was 1.2 m of water over the road and flooding through the mill.
Above Maheno, the banks of the river were overtopped and severe damage was caused to paddocks.
Flooding
at
Middlemarch
In Strath Taieri and Middlemarch, there was very extensive flooding from the local streams.
Heavy Rain
at
Oamaru
Oamaru Airport recorded 2.04 in (5.18 cm) of rain in 24 hours ending at 9am on the 8th.
Flooding
Oamaru airport was closed due to surface water on the 7th.
From Oamaru to Papakaio, State Highway 1 was underwater in many places making it impassable.
There was flooding of houses at Richmond, north of Oamaru, and other associated damages.
Heavy Rain
at
The Dasher
The Dasher recorded 5.09 in (12.93 cm) of rain in 24 hours ending 9am on the 8th.
Flooding
at
Waikouaiti River
Waikouaiti River was in its highest flood for the past seven years.
References
- Hydrology Annual, No. 16, 1968, Part 1, R. E. Owen, 1969, Government Printer, Wellington, Water and Soil Division, New Zealand
- Headline: Roads Cut As Floods Swirl Through Otago.
- Otago Daily Times, 8 June 1968.
June 1968 Otago Flooding
(
1968-06-06
)
Otago experienced heavy rainfall on the eastern side of the Horse Range, Kakanui Mountains and along the eastern faces of the Rock and Pillar Range behind Middlemarch and at the back of the Waikouaiti River. This lead to flooding in Oamaru and Maheno.
Otago
Heavy Rain
at
Otago
A complex depression moved from the south-west to the north-east. East to south east winds around the southern side of this depression caused extremely heavy rainfall in the coastal and hinterland areas of North Otago.
The highest rainfall was on the eastern side of the Horse Range and Kakanui Mountains.
Other isolated areas of heavy rain were along the eastern faces of the Rock and Pillar Range, behind Middlemarch, and at the back of the Waikaouaiti River.
Flooding
State Highway 1 was blocked by 2 ft (0.61 m) of water at Maheno and Hampden.
The road between the Pukeuri and the Waitaki River was blocked by water.
State Highway 83 from Oamaru to Kurow was blocked at Peebles and Papakaio by water.
Damage was confined to the Taieri, Tokomairiro and Kakanui catchment. Coastal tributaries between Hampden and the Waitaki River were all in high flood
There were many cases of flooding, bank erosion and road damage.
From Herbert to Hampden, floodwaters were 1.2 m deep over State Highway 1.
Rivers and streams were running high in North Otago.
Heavy Rain
at
Dunedin
Dunedin City recorded over 2.5 in (6.35 cm) of rain during the week.
Flooding
at
East Taieri
In the East Taieri area, there was flooding in the area from the Taieri River. The flooding covered an area of 1300 ha.
Flooding
at
Incholme
Incholme was isolated. Many other country farmhouses and settlements were isolated by the floodwaters.
Flooding
at
Island Stream
There was very extensive flooding in the catchment, with fences damaged and destroyed and willows uprooted.
There was some scouring of paddocks and considerable soil loss.
Flooding
at
Kakanui River
The flood in the Kakanui River was one of the highest on record and was exceeded only by the 1892 flood.
Very severe damage in excess of that for the flood of 1961 was experienced on the Kakanui, particularly above Maheno.
Extensive damage occurred near Gemmell's Crossing bridge where flood waters overtopped the embankment leading to the bridge.
Some banks of the Kakanui River, below Maheno, were overtopped causing destruction to winter feed.
Flooding
at
Kokonga
The area was extensively flooded and the Taieri River and the Swinburn were in high flood.
County roads and State Highway 87 were underwater.
Flooding
at
Lindis Pass
Roads were impassable.
Flooding
at
Maheno
Three families were evacuated.
One family had 4 ft (1.22 m) of water through their house.
At Maheno, the bowling green was flooded.
At Clark's Floor Mill, there was 1.2 m of water over the road and flooding through the mill.
Above Maheno, the banks of the river were overtopped and severe damage was caused to paddocks.
Flooding
at
Middlemarch
In Strath Taieri and Middlemarch, there was very extensive flooding from the local streams.
Heavy Rain
at
Oamaru
Oamaru Airport recorded 2.04 in (5.18 cm) of rain in 24 hours ending at 9am on the 8th.
Flooding
Oamaru airport was closed due to surface water on the 7th.
From Oamaru to Papakaio, State Highway 1 was underwater in many places making it impassable.
There was flooding of houses at Richmond, north of Oamaru, and other associated damages.
Heavy Rain
at
The Dasher
The Dasher recorded 5.09 in (12.93 cm) of rain in 24 hours ending 9am on the 8th.
Flooding
at
Waikouaiti River
Waikouaiti River was in its highest flood for the past seven years.
References
- Hydrology Annual, No. 16, 1968, Part 1, R. E. Owen, 1969, Government Printer, Wellington, Water and Soil Division, New Zealand
- Headline: Roads Cut As Floods Swirl Through Otago.
- Otago Daily Times, 8 June 1968.