NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
March 1997 North Island Ex-tropical Cyclone Gavin ( 1997-03-11 )
Ex-tropical Cyclone Gavin brought high winds, high seas, heavy rain and flooding to parts of Northland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Gisborne. Three homes were evacuated in Gisborne due to wind damage and a family was evacuated in Northland.
North Island
Multi Hazard
Duration: 3 days - From the 11th to the 13th of March.
Ex-tropical Cyclone Gavin. On the 10th and 11th, Cyclone Gavin moved steadily southwards, evolving into a deep subtropical depression located about 450 km north-east of Auckland. An associated rainband moved over the north-east of the North Island, bringing heavy rain to exposed eastern districts.
Heavy rain and gales were experienced in the north-east of the North Island.
Northland
Heavy Rain
at
Northland
Northland received 30-50 mm (3.0-5.0 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Flooding
Heavy rain in parts of Northland caused flooding in exposed areas to the east on the 11th.
High Wind / Gust
Islands off the east coast of Northland recorded south-easterly winds averaging 80 km/hr.
Islands off the east coast of Northland recorded peak gusts of 113 km/hr.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Ohawini Bay
A family was evacuated at Ohawini Bay in Whangaruru Harbour.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Paihia
At Paihia, about 50 m of the waterfront collapsed as a huge swell combined with unusually high tides pounded the east coast.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Tutukaka
The basement of a beachfront house in Tutukaka was flooded.
Waikato
Flooding
at
Waikato
Heavy rain in parts of Coromandel Peninsula caused flooding in exposed areas to the east on the 11th.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Tararu
At Tararu, the first high tide on the 11th was 1.86 m hindcast, relative to the Tararu MSL datum.
At Tararu, the second high tide on the 11th was 1.87 m hindcast, relative to the Tararu MSL datum.
High Wind / Gust
at
Taupo
High winds cut power to a wide area of Taupo and surrounding districts.
There were winds of 80-100 km/hr.
Bay of Plenty
Heavy Rain
at
Bay of Plenty
Bay of Plenty received 30-50 mm (3.0-5.0 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Flooding
Heavy rain in parts of Bay of Plenty caused flooding in exposed areas to the east on the 11th.
High Wind / Gust
Severe gales downed trees.
There were power disruptions caused by arcing power lines.
Multi Hazard
at
Tauranga
Tauranga was relatively unscathed.
Gisborne
Heavy Rain
at
Gisborne
The ranges of Gisborne recorded 50-150 mm (5.0-15.0 cm) of rain.
Flooding
Heavy rain in parts of Gisborne caused flooding in exposed areas to the east on the 11th.
There was surface water on the Poverty Bay flats.
High Wind / Gust
Severe gales caused damage in Gisborne.
Multi Hazard
Roads were closed by flooding and slips.
Corn, maize and grape crops were badly affected by wet and windy conditions. Entire paddocks of heavily-laden sweetcorn were reported to have been blown flat near coast.
East Cape bore the brunt of the Cyclone.
Heavy Rain
at
Gisborne city
Gisborne Airport recorded 108.6 mm (10.9 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Gisborne recorded 115.5 mm (11.6 cm) of rain in the 23 hours to 8am on the 12th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Hicks Bay
The Hicks Bay area had south-easterly gusts of up to 128 km/hr.
State Highway 35 was closed just north of Hicks Bay due to trees blocking the road.
Heavy Rain
at
Hikuwai
Hikuwai recorded 159.5 mm (16.0 cm) of rain in the 23 hours to 8am on the 12th.
Heavy Rain
at
Kanakanaia
Kanakanaia recorded 78.5 mm (7.9 cm) of rain in the 23 hours to 8am on the 12th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Matakaoa Point
Two homes at Matakaoa Point were extensively damaged by the wind, having their roofs ripped off. The wind also toppled several trees.
Three families were evacuated on the 12th.
The winds were described as "so strong we could scarcely stand up".
The winds brought down power lines.
Heavy Rain
at
Matawai
Matawai recorded 166 mm (16.6 cm) of rain overnight on the 11th/12th.
Heavy Rain
at
Monowai station
Monowai Bridge recorded 140 mm (14.0 cm) of rain in the 23 hours to 8am on the 12th.
Heavy Rain
at
Motu
Motu recorded 152.2 mm (15.2 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Motu recorded 166 mm (16.6 cm) of rain overnight on the 11th/12th.
Flooding
The Motu River overtopped its banks upstream, and extensive flooding occurred in the Motu area.
The township was surrounded by surface water.
Motu School was closed.
Heavy Rain
at
Pakarae
Pakarae recorded 162.5 mm (16.3 cm) of rain in the 23 hours to 8am on the 12th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Potaka
At Potaka, a house and its contents were demolished by high winds early on the morning of the 12th. The entire roof was completely ripped off and the front wall ripped out.
Potaka had winds of up to 120 km/hr.
Potaka and the Waikura Valley were left without power overnight on the 12th.
Heavy Rain
at
Te Araroa
Te Araroa recorded 34 mm (3.4 cm) in the 24 hours to 8am on the 12th.
Flooding
at
Te Karaka
The Waipaoa River at Kanakanaia Bridge was at a level of 5 m.
Landslide
at
Te Puia Springs
State Highway 35 was closed near Te Puia Springs due to land slump. The landslide was an old one reactivated by the heavy rain.
Wellington
Multi Hazard
at
Wellington
Wairarapa was affected.
References
- Headline: Mr Cyclone glad to see Gavin pass.
- The Bay of Plenty, 12 March 1997.
- Bell, R.G; Hill, A.F. (1997). Tidal and meteorlogical conditions for previous major sea storms at Thames.
- Environment Waikato. State of Emergency Declarations in the district since 1976.
- Headline: Gavin buffets district and crops disrupted.
- The Gisborne Herald, 12 March 1997.
- Headline: District gets off lightly.
- The Gisborne Herald, 13 March 1997.
- Headline: Family in real plight after home torn apart.
- The Gisborne Herald, 13 March 1997.
- www.metservice.co.nz / Learning Centre / Notable Weather Events Archives / 1997 Autumn / Cyclone Gavin 11-13 March 1997.
- Headline: Northlanders escape with minor damage.
- The Northern Advocate, 12 March 1997.
- Saunders, W. (2000). Planning and Resources, Hazard and Emergency Management Section, Wairarapa Division, Wairarapa Storm Events 1880-1998, Technical Report No. 00/17.
March 1997 North Island Ex-tropical Cyclone Gavin ( 1997-03-11 )
Ex-tropical Cyclone Gavin brought high winds, high seas, heavy rain and flooding to parts of Northland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Gisborne. Three homes were evacuated in Gisborne due to wind damage and a family was evacuated in Northland.
North Island
Multi Hazard
Duration: 3 days - From the 11th to the 13th of March.
Ex-tropical Cyclone Gavin. On the 10th and 11th, Cyclone Gavin moved steadily southwards, evolving into a deep subtropical depression located about 450 km north-east of Auckland. An associated rainband moved over the north-east of the North Island, bringing heavy rain to exposed eastern districts.
Heavy rain and gales were experienced in the north-east of the North Island.
Northland
Heavy Rain
at
Northland
Northland received 30-50 mm (3.0-5.0 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Flooding
Heavy rain in parts of Northland caused flooding in exposed areas to the east on the 11th.
High Wind / Gust
Islands off the east coast of Northland recorded south-easterly winds averaging 80 km/hr.
Islands off the east coast of Northland recorded peak gusts of 113 km/hr.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Ohawini Bay
A family was evacuated at Ohawini Bay in Whangaruru Harbour.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Paihia
At Paihia, about 50 m of the waterfront collapsed as a huge swell combined with unusually high tides pounded the east coast.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Tutukaka
The basement of a beachfront house in Tutukaka was flooded.
Waikato
Flooding
at
Waikato
Heavy rain in parts of Coromandel Peninsula caused flooding in exposed areas to the east on the 11th.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Tararu
At Tararu, the first high tide on the 11th was 1.86 m hindcast, relative to the Tararu MSL datum.
At Tararu, the second high tide on the 11th was 1.87 m hindcast, relative to the Tararu MSL datum.
High Wind / Gust
at
Taupo
High winds cut power to a wide area of Taupo and surrounding districts.
There were winds of 80-100 km/hr.
Bay of Plenty
Heavy Rain
at
Bay of Plenty
Bay of Plenty received 30-50 mm (3.0-5.0 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Flooding
Heavy rain in parts of Bay of Plenty caused flooding in exposed areas to the east on the 11th.
High Wind / Gust
Severe gales downed trees.
There were power disruptions caused by arcing power lines.
Multi Hazard
at
Tauranga
Tauranga was relatively unscathed.
Gisborne
Heavy Rain
at
Gisborne
The ranges of Gisborne recorded 50-150 mm (5.0-15.0 cm) of rain.
Flooding
Heavy rain in parts of Gisborne caused flooding in exposed areas to the east on the 11th.
There was surface water on the Poverty Bay flats.
High Wind / Gust
Severe gales caused damage in Gisborne.
Multi Hazard
Roads were closed by flooding and slips.
Corn, maize and grape crops were badly affected by wet and windy conditions. Entire paddocks of heavily-laden sweetcorn were reported to have been blown flat near coast.
East Cape bore the brunt of the Cyclone.
Heavy Rain
at
Gisborne city
Gisborne Airport recorded 108.6 mm (10.9 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Gisborne recorded 115.5 mm (11.6 cm) of rain in the 23 hours to 8am on the 12th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Hicks Bay
The Hicks Bay area had south-easterly gusts of up to 128 km/hr.
State Highway 35 was closed just north of Hicks Bay due to trees blocking the road.
Heavy Rain
at
Hikuwai
Hikuwai recorded 159.5 mm (16.0 cm) of rain in the 23 hours to 8am on the 12th.
Heavy Rain
at
Kanakanaia
Kanakanaia recorded 78.5 mm (7.9 cm) of rain in the 23 hours to 8am on the 12th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Matakaoa Point
Two homes at Matakaoa Point were extensively damaged by the wind, having their roofs ripped off. The wind also toppled several trees.
Three families were evacuated on the 12th.
The winds were described as "so strong we could scarcely stand up".
The winds brought down power lines.
Heavy Rain
at
Matawai
Matawai recorded 166 mm (16.6 cm) of rain overnight on the 11th/12th.
Heavy Rain
at
Monowai station
Monowai Bridge recorded 140 mm (14.0 cm) of rain in the 23 hours to 8am on the 12th.
Heavy Rain
at
Motu
Motu recorded 152.2 mm (15.2 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Motu recorded 166 mm (16.6 cm) of rain overnight on the 11th/12th.
Flooding
The Motu River overtopped its banks upstream, and extensive flooding occurred in the Motu area.
The township was surrounded by surface water.
Motu School was closed.
Heavy Rain
at
Pakarae
Pakarae recorded 162.5 mm (16.3 cm) of rain in the 23 hours to 8am on the 12th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Potaka
At Potaka, a house and its contents were demolished by high winds early on the morning of the 12th. The entire roof was completely ripped off and the front wall ripped out.
Potaka had winds of up to 120 km/hr.
Potaka and the Waikura Valley were left without power overnight on the 12th.
Heavy Rain
at
Te Araroa
Te Araroa recorded 34 mm (3.4 cm) in the 24 hours to 8am on the 12th.
Flooding
at
Te Karaka
The Waipaoa River at Kanakanaia Bridge was at a level of 5 m.
Landslide
at
Te Puia Springs
State Highway 35 was closed near Te Puia Springs due to land slump. The landslide was an old one reactivated by the heavy rain.
Wellington
Multi Hazard
at
Wellington
Wairarapa was affected.
References
- Headline: Mr Cyclone glad to see Gavin pass.
- The Bay of Plenty, 12 March 1997.
- Bell, R.G; Hill, A.F. (1997). Tidal and meteorlogical conditions for previous major sea storms at Thames.
- Environment Waikato. State of Emergency Declarations in the district since 1976.
- Headline: Gavin buffets district and crops disrupted.
- The Gisborne Herald, 12 March 1997.
- Headline: District gets off lightly.
- The Gisborne Herald, 13 March 1997.
- Headline: Family in real plight after home torn apart.
- The Gisborne Herald, 13 March 1997.
- www.metservice.co.nz / Learning Centre / Notable Weather Events Archives / 1997 Autumn / Cyclone Gavin 11-13 March 1997.
- Headline: Northlanders escape with minor damage.
- The Northern Advocate, 12 March 1997.
- Saunders, W. (2000). Planning and Resources, Hazard and Emergency Management Section, Wairarapa Division, Wairarapa Storm Events 1880-1998, Technical Report No. 00/17.