NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
May 2013 New Zealand Storm ( 2013-05-04 )
A deep low pressure system crossed New Zealand during the period 4-6 May, bringing stormy weather to many areas. Heavy downpours caused chaos around the country with power cut to hundreds of homes, buildings flooded and some flights suspended.
New Zealand
Multi Hazard
at
New Zealand
Duration: 3 days - The storm lasted from 4 to 6 May.
Insurance claims totalled $2.9 million.
MetService recorded more than 500 lightning strikes in central New Zealand on the night of May 5. About 100 of them were around Wellington.
Wellington
Flooding
at
Wellington City
The heavy rainfall blew out manhole covers on some Wellington roads and cut power to 130 Wellington Electricity customers.
The Accident and Urgent Medical Centre in Newtown had its electricity cut off and it was forced to send several patients to nearby Wellington Hospital when its backup generator was also affected by the flood.
The Wellington Fire Service said crews responded to multiple flooding incidents in the inner city. Areas affected were the CBD, the Basin Reserve, Aotea Quay, Kent Tce, Oriental Pde, The Terrace, the underpass at the southern end of Wellington Airport, Newtown, Kilbirnie, Lyall Bay, Karori, Mornington, Island Bay, Wilton, and Melrose.
The Wellington City Council received more than 150 calls about flooding on May 6. The council advised motorists to use extreme caution and avoid driving until the heavy rain eased.
35 mm of rain fell at Wellington Airport in the 2 hours between 8:30am and 10:30am on May 6.
High Wind / Gust
at
Wellington Airport
Strong gales resulted in the suspension of some Air New Zealand flights out of Wellington Airport.
Lightning
at
Petone
Lightning split a pine tree at the Shandon Golf Course in Petone.
Northland
Flooding
at
Northland
Much of Northland was hit by thunderstorms and heavy rain on May 4.
There was flooding in the Kaipara district.
Auckland
Flooding
at
Auckland
Up to 1400 homes in the Auckland region were without power when storms hit on 5th and 6th May.
A six-car nose to tail accident at the height of the storm blocked one lane on the region's southern motorway. A three-car crash on the Auckland Harbour Bridge closed one northbound lane. Police said that the torrential rain was the major factor in the accidents.
The Fire Service attended multiple flooding incidents throughout the Eastern Bays area of Auckland.
A huge oak tree came crashing down onto a house in Remuera, following a very heavy downpour.
Marlborough
Multi Hazard
at
Blenheim
Heavy rain during the night of May 5, caused flooding in parts of Blenheim. The Taylor River was also running high, which may have held up some of the water running out of the drains. In the 24 hours to 6.30am on 6 May, more than 60mm of rain was recorded in parts of the region: including 72mm of rain at Rarangi, 63.5mm at Blenheim, 52.5mm at Rai Valley, 52mm at Waikawa, and 47mm at Onamalutu.
Heavy rain caused flooding and slips along about five kilometres of highway between Blenheim and Seddon, which had narrowed the road to one lane in places.
Flooding
at
Kaikoura
State Highway 1 was down to one lane just to the north of Kaikoura.
Canterbury
Flooding
at
Christchurch
Health authorities warned people to avoid beaches and rivers after heavy rain put pressure on the region's sewerage system. The Christchurch City Council said sewage overflow discharges had gone into the Avon/Otakaro River, Heathcote/Opawaho River and Akaroa Harbour.
Flooding in Moorhouse Ave, which was about 30 centimetres deep, created traffic problems.
References
- Insurance Council of New Zealand (www.icnz.org.nz/current/weather)
- Headline: Severe Weather Heading Our Way
- www.nzherald.co.nz Northern Advocate News, 5 May 2013
- Headline: Falling tree like ‘a bomb’ as rain lashes region.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 5 May 2013
- Headline: Wild weather cuts power, causes floods
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 6 May 2013
- Headline: Rain, wind hit Wellington region
- www.stuff.co.nz Dominion Post, 6 May 2013
- Headline: Flooding causes road havoc as wild weather hits
- www.stuff.co.nz, 6 May 2013
- Headline: Storm causes flooding in Marlborough
- www.stuff.co.nz Nelson Mail, 6 May 2013
- Headline: Wild weather strikes top of South
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 6 May 2013.
May 2013 New Zealand Storm ( 2013-05-04 )
A deep low pressure system crossed New Zealand during the period 4-6 May, bringing stormy weather to many areas. Heavy downpours caused chaos around the country with power cut to hundreds of homes, buildings flooded and some flights suspended.
New Zealand
Multi Hazard
at
New Zealand
Duration: 3 days - The storm lasted from 4 to 6 May.
Insurance claims totalled $2.9 million.
MetService recorded more than 500 lightning strikes in central New Zealand on the night of May 5. About 100 of them were around Wellington.
Wellington
Flooding
at
Wellington City
The heavy rainfall blew out manhole covers on some Wellington roads and cut power to 130 Wellington Electricity customers.
The Accident and Urgent Medical Centre in Newtown had its electricity cut off and it was forced to send several patients to nearby Wellington Hospital when its backup generator was also affected by the flood.
The Wellington Fire Service said crews responded to multiple flooding incidents in the inner city. Areas affected were the CBD, the Basin Reserve, Aotea Quay, Kent Tce, Oriental Pde, The Terrace, the underpass at the southern end of Wellington Airport, Newtown, Kilbirnie, Lyall Bay, Karori, Mornington, Island Bay, Wilton, and Melrose.
The Wellington City Council received more than 150 calls about flooding on May 6. The council advised motorists to use extreme caution and avoid driving until the heavy rain eased.
35 mm of rain fell at Wellington Airport in the 2 hours between 8:30am and 10:30am on May 6.
High Wind / Gust
at
Wellington Airport
Strong gales resulted in the suspension of some Air New Zealand flights out of Wellington Airport.
Lightning
at
Petone
Lightning split a pine tree at the Shandon Golf Course in Petone.
Northland
Flooding
at
Northland
Much of Northland was hit by thunderstorms and heavy rain on May 4.
There was flooding in the Kaipara district.
Auckland
Flooding
at
Auckland
Up to 1400 homes in the Auckland region were without power when storms hit on 5th and 6th May.
A six-car nose to tail accident at the height of the storm blocked one lane on the region's southern motorway. A three-car crash on the Auckland Harbour Bridge closed one northbound lane. Police said that the torrential rain was the major factor in the accidents.
The Fire Service attended multiple flooding incidents throughout the Eastern Bays area of Auckland.
A huge oak tree came crashing down onto a house in Remuera, following a very heavy downpour.
Marlborough
Multi Hazard
at
Blenheim
Heavy rain during the night of May 5, caused flooding in parts of Blenheim. The Taylor River was also running high, which may have held up some of the water running out of the drains. In the 24 hours to 6.30am on 6 May, more than 60mm of rain was recorded in parts of the region: including 72mm of rain at Rarangi, 63.5mm at Blenheim, 52.5mm at Rai Valley, 52mm at Waikawa, and 47mm at Onamalutu.
Heavy rain caused flooding and slips along about five kilometres of highway between Blenheim and Seddon, which had narrowed the road to one lane in places.
Flooding
at
Kaikoura
State Highway 1 was down to one lane just to the north of Kaikoura.
Canterbury
Flooding
at
Christchurch
Health authorities warned people to avoid beaches and rivers after heavy rain put pressure on the region's sewerage system. The Christchurch City Council said sewage overflow discharges had gone into the Avon/Otakaro River, Heathcote/Opawaho River and Akaroa Harbour.
Flooding in Moorhouse Ave, which was about 30 centimetres deep, created traffic problems.
References
- Insurance Council of New Zealand (www.icnz.org.nz/current/weather)
- Headline: Severe Weather Heading Our Way
- www.nzherald.co.nz Northern Advocate News, 5 May 2013
- Headline: Falling tree like ‘a bomb’ as rain lashes region.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 5 May 2013
- Headline: Wild weather cuts power, causes floods
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 6 May 2013
- Headline: Rain, wind hit Wellington region
- www.stuff.co.nz Dominion Post, 6 May 2013
- Headline: Flooding causes road havoc as wild weather hits
- www.stuff.co.nz, 6 May 2013
- Headline: Storm causes flooding in Marlborough
- www.stuff.co.nz Nelson Mail, 6 May 2013
- Headline: Wild weather strikes top of South
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 6 May 2013.