NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
May 1958 Southland and Otago Flooding ( 1958-05-06 )
South Island
Multi Hazard
at
South Island
Duration: 5 days - From the 6th till the 10th of May.
Otago
Lightning
at
Otago
Thunder and lightning accompained rain.
Flooding
at
Alexandra
The rivers above Alexandra were high.
Flooding
at
Clyde
The river level at Clyde was 66.2 ft (20.2 m) and rising.
Flooding
at
Lake Wakatipu
Lake Wakatipu was 3 ft 6 in (1.1 m) above normal on the 9th, and rising.
Flooding
at
Lake Wanaka
Lake Wanaka rose to the level of the wharf.
Flooding
at
Manuherikia River
The Manuherikia River rose 5 ft (1.5 m) above normal.
Heavy Rain
at
Queenstown
Queenstown had a week of rain.
Flooding
Queenstown received 6.2 in (15.7 cm) of rain from 9am on the 2nd to 5.30pm on the 8th.
There was a rush of water down the main street, caused by a break in the banks of Horne Creek. On the 9th streets and footpaths in Queenstown were badly scoured.
In the White Star Hotel water seeped into the kitchen and lounge.
Southland
Flooding
at
Southland
Rivers throughout the province were running high and caused minor flooding.
Roads were closed by flooding.
Some telephone lines were out.
High Wind / Gust
at
Gore
Gore experienced gale-force winds.
Multi Hazard
at
Invercargill
A spring tide coincided with extremely high westerly winds and rain, and backed up the Invercargill estuary to record levels on the 6th.
Flooding
Some adjacent low-lying areas were flooded.
On the 7th, after weeks of high rivers, the Waihopai River overflowed and reached a 30-year peak.
Two business premises were flooded and 10 houses were surrounded on Bay Rd.
Maritime / Coastal
At 12pm on the 6th, Invercargill estuary recorded a high tide of 2.39 m - the supposed record to date. This had an annual return period of 6 years.
Heavy Rain
By the 10th of May, Invercargill had received 11.5 in (29.2 cm) of rain since April.
Flooding
at
Mataura
The flood in the Mataura Borough had a discharge of 365 cumecs at one point in May. This was the annual maximum flood.
References
- Bradley, D. (2002). Storm surge and marine inundation. Environment Southland, Invercargill.
- Headline: Creek floods at Queenstown.
- Otago Daily Times, 9 May 1958.
- Owen, R.E. (1960). Hydrology Annual, No.6, 1958. Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand.
- The Southland Times, Invercargill, Sunday, January 1, 1950 - Thursday, December 31, 1959, Special Souvenir Edition, A Century of News, p 15.
- Surface Water Hydrology of the Mataura River Catchment.
May 1958 Southland and Otago Flooding ( 1958-05-06 )
South Island
Multi Hazard
at
South Island
Duration: 5 days - From the 6th till the 10th of May.
Otago
Lightning
at
Otago
Thunder and lightning accompained rain.
Flooding
at
Alexandra
The rivers above Alexandra were high.
Flooding
at
Clyde
The river level at Clyde was 66.2 ft (20.2 m) and rising.
Flooding
at
Lake Wakatipu
Lake Wakatipu was 3 ft 6 in (1.1 m) above normal on the 9th, and rising.
Flooding
at
Lake Wanaka
Lake Wanaka rose to the level of the wharf.
Flooding
at
Manuherikia River
The Manuherikia River rose 5 ft (1.5 m) above normal.
Heavy Rain
at
Queenstown
Queenstown had a week of rain.
Flooding
Queenstown received 6.2 in (15.7 cm) of rain from 9am on the 2nd to 5.30pm on the 8th.
There was a rush of water down the main street, caused by a break in the banks of Horne Creek. On the 9th streets and footpaths in Queenstown were badly scoured.
In the White Star Hotel water seeped into the kitchen and lounge.
Southland
Flooding
at
Southland
Rivers throughout the province were running high and caused minor flooding.
Roads were closed by flooding.
Some telephone lines were out.
High Wind / Gust
at
Gore
Gore experienced gale-force winds.
Multi Hazard
at
Invercargill
A spring tide coincided with extremely high westerly winds and rain, and backed up the Invercargill estuary to record levels on the 6th.
Flooding
Some adjacent low-lying areas were flooded.
On the 7th, after weeks of high rivers, the Waihopai River overflowed and reached a 30-year peak.
Two business premises were flooded and 10 houses were surrounded on Bay Rd.
Maritime / Coastal
At 12pm on the 6th, Invercargill estuary recorded a high tide of 2.39 m - the supposed record to date. This had an annual return period of 6 years.
Heavy Rain
By the 10th of May, Invercargill had received 11.5 in (29.2 cm) of rain since April.
Flooding
at
Mataura
The flood in the Mataura Borough had a discharge of 365 cumecs at one point in May. This was the annual maximum flood.
References
- Bradley, D. (2002). Storm surge and marine inundation. Environment Southland, Invercargill.
- Headline: Creek floods at Queenstown.
- Otago Daily Times, 9 May 1958.
- Owen, R.E. (1960). Hydrology Annual, No.6, 1958. Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand.
- The Southland Times, Invercargill, Sunday, January 1, 1950 - Thursday, December 31, 1959, Special Souvenir Edition, A Century of News, p 15.
- Surface Water Hydrology of the Mataura River Catchment.