NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
May 1940 Otago and Southland Flooding
(
1940-05-04
)
20 years
Heavy rain caused flooding in Otago and Southland. There was also snow falls in Canterbury and Otago.
Canterbury
Snow / Ice
at
Canterbury
Heavy snow in the ranges of Canterbury between the 5th and the 7th.
Porter's Pass and Arthur's Pass were blocked by snow.
Heavy Rain
Christchurch Magnetic Observatory recorded 1.78 in (4.52cm) of rain in 24 hours up to 9am on the 7th.
Otago
Heavy Rain
at
Otago
Duration: 4 days - There was continuous rain for four days throughout the province, resulting in flooding on the 7th.
Flooding
Otago roads were blocked by slips and washouts.
Farm losses were considerable.
The Manuherikia River reached its highest level for 20 years.
Snow / Ice
The Outram to Middlemarch highway had six inches (15.2cm) of snow by the afternoon of the 6th.
The highway between Dunback, Macrae's Flat and Hyde was impassable due to heavy snow on the 6th.
Heavy Rain
at
Dunedin
Dunedin recorded 1.86 in (4.7cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Dunedin recorded 4.41 in (11.2cm) of rain in four days.
Flooding
There was minor flooding in Dunedin's North-East Valley and Kaikorai Valley.
The highway between Dunedin and Port Chalmers was blocked near Sawyer's Bay. Duke's Road was under water and the Main North Road was impassable at Mount Cargill due to an overflowing dam.
Heavy Rain
at
Whare Flat
Whare Flat recorded 3.61 in (9.2cm) of rain on the 7th.
Whare Flat recorded 3.18 in (8.1cm) of rain on the 8th.
Heavy Rain
at
Sullivans Dam
Sullivan's Dam recorded 2.51 in (6.4cm) of rain on the 7th.
Sullivan's Dam recorded 1.99 in (5.1cm) of rain on the 8th.
Flooding
at
Taieri Plain
At Tairei Plain, there was thousands of acres inundated.
Many farm houses were invaded by the floodwaters.
Flood levels were generally higher than in 1923.
There were heavy stock losses and many stock drowned. There was also great loss of winter feed.
The weather cleared at about 7pm on the 6th but Taieri River was still rising.
The dairy factory at Silverside was surrounded by one foot (30.5cm) of water
The road between Middlemarch and Outram was blocked at Hervey's Flat and the West Taieri bridge.
Taieri airport was unusable and the Waianakarua airport had to be used instead.
Flooding
at
Otokia
Tairei River rose 14 ft 9 in (4.5m) above normal at Otokia.
There was 5 ft 9 in of (1.75m) water covering the railway and 2 ft (0.61m) of water covered the roads.
Flooding
at
Allanton
The flood banks in Allanton broke causing further flooding in the area.
Flooding
at
Henley
Water rose over 3 ft (0.91m) deep and flowed through the hotel and the store.
Flooding
at
Outram
Outram branch line had 15 ft (4.6m) of water covering the track between Riverside and Gladfield.
Rail traffic was suspended between Mosgiel, Milton and the Outram line.
Flooding
at
Waitati
Waitati Stream overflowed and flooded houses in the Waitati township.
Flooding
at
Galloway
The river overflowed and flooded the surrounding country and many homesteads were isolated.
Heavy Rain
at
Waitahuna
Waitahuna recorded 1.16 in (2.9cm) of rain in 24 hours till midnight on the 6th.
Flooding
Waitahuna River overflowed causing serious flooding in Waitahuna.
A number of residents were forced to leave their homes and floodwaters were flowing through the main street and into the shops.
Flooding
at
Balclutha
At Balclutha, the Clutha River had a discharge of 75,000 cusecs (2124 cumecs) at the gauge at the old road bridge with a catchment area of 8100 sq miles (20,979 km^2). The discharge was calculated from a reconstructed discharge curve.
Southland
Heavy Rain
at
Southland
Steady rain over eastern Southland caused heavy flooding of large areas of land on the 8th.
Flooding
Stock losses were very light.
Flooding
at
Gore
Mataura River rose 9 ft 6 in (2.9m) above normal at Gore.
Flooding
at
Otamita
The bridge at Otamita had the piles of one pier washed away.
Flooding
at
Oreti River
Oreti River broke its banks in several places and flooded extensive areas of land.
Flooding
at
Black Bridge
Highways were impassable and there was 3 ft (0.91m) of water across Riverton Road at Black Bridge.
Flooding
at
Waipahi River
Waipahi River was in high flood and it blocked the Main South Road.
Heavy Rain
at
Invercargill
Invercargill recorded 0.73 in (1.9cm) of rain.
Flooding
at
Mataura
The annual maximum flood discharge of Mataura River was 595 cumecs which occurred on the 9th.
References
- Cowie, C.A.; Attwood, A.K. (1957). Floods in New Zealand, 1920-53, The Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand,239p.
- Hydrology Annual No.3 1955, Soil Conservation and River Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand
- Headline: Airliner Delayed.
- Otago Daily Times, 7 May 1940.
- Headline: Floods on the Taieri.
- Otago Daily Times, 7 May 1940.
- Headline: Highways Under Water.
- Otago Daily Times, 7 May 1940.
- Headline: Snow in Canterbury.
- Otago Daily Times, 7 May 1940.
- Headline: Snow in Central Otago.
- Otago Daily Times, 7 May 1940.
- Headline: Waitahuna's Plight.
- Otago Daily Times, 7 May 1940.
- Headline: Widespread Rain.
- Otago Daily Times, 7 May 1940.
- Surface Water Hydrology of the Mataura River Catchment.
May 1940 Otago and Southland Flooding
(
1940-05-04
)
20 years
Heavy rain caused flooding in Otago and Southland. There was also snow falls in Canterbury and Otago.
Canterbury
Snow / Ice
at
Canterbury
Heavy snow in the ranges of Canterbury between the 5th and the 7th.
Porter's Pass and Arthur's Pass were blocked by snow.
Heavy Rain
Christchurch Magnetic Observatory recorded 1.78 in (4.52cm) of rain in 24 hours up to 9am on the 7th.
Otago
Heavy Rain
at
Otago
Duration: 4 days - There was continuous rain for four days throughout the province, resulting in flooding on the 7th.
Flooding
Otago roads were blocked by slips and washouts.
Farm losses were considerable.
The Manuherikia River reached its highest level for 20 years.
Snow / Ice
The Outram to Middlemarch highway had six inches (15.2cm) of snow by the afternoon of the 6th.
The highway between Dunback, Macrae's Flat and Hyde was impassable due to heavy snow on the 6th.
Heavy Rain
at
Dunedin
Dunedin recorded 1.86 in (4.7cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Dunedin recorded 4.41 in (11.2cm) of rain in four days.
Flooding
There was minor flooding in Dunedin's North-East Valley and Kaikorai Valley.
The highway between Dunedin and Port Chalmers was blocked near Sawyer's Bay. Duke's Road was under water and the Main North Road was impassable at Mount Cargill due to an overflowing dam.
Heavy Rain
at
Whare Flat
Whare Flat recorded 3.61 in (9.2cm) of rain on the 7th.
Whare Flat recorded 3.18 in (8.1cm) of rain on the 8th.
Heavy Rain
at
Sullivans Dam
Sullivan's Dam recorded 2.51 in (6.4cm) of rain on the 7th.
Sullivan's Dam recorded 1.99 in (5.1cm) of rain on the 8th.
Flooding
at
Taieri Plain
At Tairei Plain, there was thousands of acres inundated.
Many farm houses were invaded by the floodwaters.
Flood levels were generally higher than in 1923.
There were heavy stock losses and many stock drowned. There was also great loss of winter feed.
The weather cleared at about 7pm on the 6th but Taieri River was still rising.
The dairy factory at Silverside was surrounded by one foot (30.5cm) of water
The road between Middlemarch and Outram was blocked at Hervey's Flat and the West Taieri bridge.
Taieri airport was unusable and the Waianakarua airport had to be used instead.
Flooding
at
Otokia
Tairei River rose 14 ft 9 in (4.5m) above normal at Otokia.
There was 5 ft 9 in of (1.75m) water covering the railway and 2 ft (0.61m) of water covered the roads.
Flooding
at
Allanton
The flood banks in Allanton broke causing further flooding in the area.
Flooding
at
Henley
Water rose over 3 ft (0.91m) deep and flowed through the hotel and the store.
Flooding
at
Outram
Outram branch line had 15 ft (4.6m) of water covering the track between Riverside and Gladfield.
Rail traffic was suspended between Mosgiel, Milton and the Outram line.
Flooding
at
Waitati
Waitati Stream overflowed and flooded houses in the Waitati township.
Flooding
at
Galloway
The river overflowed and flooded the surrounding country and many homesteads were isolated.
Heavy Rain
at
Waitahuna
Waitahuna recorded 1.16 in (2.9cm) of rain in 24 hours till midnight on the 6th.
Flooding
Waitahuna River overflowed causing serious flooding in Waitahuna.
A number of residents were forced to leave their homes and floodwaters were flowing through the main street and into the shops.
Flooding
at
Balclutha
At Balclutha, the Clutha River had a discharge of 75,000 cusecs (2124 cumecs) at the gauge at the old road bridge with a catchment area of 8100 sq miles (20,979 km^2). The discharge was calculated from a reconstructed discharge curve.
Southland
Heavy Rain
at
Southland
Steady rain over eastern Southland caused heavy flooding of large areas of land on the 8th.
Flooding
Stock losses were very light.
Flooding
at
Gore
Mataura River rose 9 ft 6 in (2.9m) above normal at Gore.
Flooding
at
Otamita
The bridge at Otamita had the piles of one pier washed away.
Flooding
at
Oreti River
Oreti River broke its banks in several places and flooded extensive areas of land.
Flooding
at
Black Bridge
Highways were impassable and there was 3 ft (0.91m) of water across Riverton Road at Black Bridge.
Flooding
at
Waipahi River
Waipahi River was in high flood and it blocked the Main South Road.
Heavy Rain
at
Invercargill
Invercargill recorded 0.73 in (1.9cm) of rain.
Flooding
at
Mataura
The annual maximum flood discharge of Mataura River was 595 cumecs which occurred on the 9th.
References
- Cowie, C.A.; Attwood, A.K. (1957). Floods in New Zealand, 1920-53, The Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand,239p.
- Hydrology Annual No.3 1955, Soil Conservation and River Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand
- Headline: Airliner Delayed.
- Otago Daily Times, 7 May 1940.
- Headline: Floods on the Taieri.
- Otago Daily Times, 7 May 1940.
- Headline: Highways Under Water.
- Otago Daily Times, 7 May 1940.
- Headline: Snow in Canterbury.
- Otago Daily Times, 7 May 1940.
- Headline: Snow in Central Otago.
- Otago Daily Times, 7 May 1940.
- Headline: Waitahuna's Plight.
- Otago Daily Times, 7 May 1940.
- Headline: Widespread Rain.
- Otago Daily Times, 7 May 1940.
- Surface Water Hydrology of the Mataura River Catchment.