NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
October 1940 Otago and Canterbury Storm ( 1940-10-26 )
Canterbury experienced high winds which knocked down telephone lines. Otago experienced heavy rain and gale force winds resulting in roads being blocked and power and water supplies being temporarily cut.
Canterbury
High Wind / Gust
at
Canterbury
The mid Canterbury hill districts experienced a north-west gale, which was the most severe they had had in years.
There was damage at the Public Works camp at Surrey Hills. Huts were blown over, a blacksmith's shop was damaged and there was some damage to a workshop.
46 telephone lines were out of action and there was light power line damage.
Otago
Heavy Rain
at
Otago
Duration: 3 days - Torrential rain in the back country started on the 26th causing flooding which continued until the 28th.
Flooding
All rivers were in high flood in the back country of Central Otago.
Main highways were impassable.
Dry creeks became flooded.
There was serious scouring on the road between Cromwell and Queensbury.
Landslide
There were serious slips on the Dunedin to Queenstown highway in Kawarau Gorge.
High Wind / Gust
Gales caused widespread damage to orchards, crops, trees, outhouses, verandahs and fences.
Heavy Rain
at
Queenstown
Queenstown recorded 3.68 in (9.34cm) of rain in 48 hours.
Flooding
Queenstown had heavy damage done to streets by water coming off Queenstown Hill. Some side streets had trenches 6 ft (1.83m) deep cut into them.
Wash outs left drainage pipes exposed and demolished channeling.
Damage to streets cost £400 ($32,700 2009 dollars) to repair.
Slips and washouts blocked many roads.
Queenstown power and water supplies were temporarily cut off.
Flooding
at
Alexandra
The peak discharge of the Clutha River at Alexandra was recorded as 39,000 cusecs (1104 cumecs).
From a reconstructed discharge curve, the discharge of the Clutha River at Alexandra was 66700 cusecs (1889 cumecs) from a catchment area of 5315 sq miles (13,766km^2) and a gauge height of 22 ft 9 in (6.93m).
Damage to Lake county roads cost £2,040 ($167,000 2009 dollars), main highways in the Alexandra district cost £3,390 ($277,500 2009 dollars) and state highways cost £1,510 ($123,600 2009 dollars) to repair.
Flooding
at
Wanaka
Wanaka was isolated for two days.
Flooding
at
Kawarau River
Kawarau River rose 15 ft (4.57m) above normal at the gauge.
Flooding
at
Balclutha
There was slight flooding in Stirling and Balclutha districts.
Flooding
at
Clutha River
Clutha River rose up to 24 ft (7.32m) above normal.
The river reached its peak level at Cromwell in the early afternoon on the 26th.
Flooding
at
Albert Town
One of the worst wash-outs occurred on the Cardrona River near Albert Town and a bridge was carried away.
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: Serious Flooding: The Lakes District.
- Otago Daily Times, 29 October 1940.
- Headline: Worst Gale for Years: Mid-Canterbury's Experience.
- Otago Daily Times, 29 October 1940.
October 1940 Otago and Canterbury Storm ( 1940-10-26 )
Canterbury experienced high winds which knocked down telephone lines. Otago experienced heavy rain and gale force winds resulting in roads being blocked and power and water supplies being temporarily cut.
Canterbury
High Wind / Gust
at
Canterbury
The mid Canterbury hill districts experienced a north-west gale, which was the most severe they had had in years.
There was damage at the Public Works camp at Surrey Hills. Huts were blown over, a blacksmith's shop was damaged and there was some damage to a workshop.
46 telephone lines were out of action and there was light power line damage.
Otago
Heavy Rain
at
Otago
Duration: 3 days - Torrential rain in the back country started on the 26th causing flooding which continued until the 28th.
Flooding
All rivers were in high flood in the back country of Central Otago.
Main highways were impassable.
Dry creeks became flooded.
There was serious scouring on the road between Cromwell and Queensbury.
Landslide
There were serious slips on the Dunedin to Queenstown highway in Kawarau Gorge.
High Wind / Gust
Gales caused widespread damage to orchards, crops, trees, outhouses, verandahs and fences.
Heavy Rain
at
Queenstown
Queenstown recorded 3.68 in (9.34cm) of rain in 48 hours.
Flooding
Queenstown had heavy damage done to streets by water coming off Queenstown Hill. Some side streets had trenches 6 ft (1.83m) deep cut into them.
Wash outs left drainage pipes exposed and demolished channeling.
Damage to streets cost £400 ($32,700 2009 dollars) to repair.
Slips and washouts blocked many roads.
Queenstown power and water supplies were temporarily cut off.
Flooding
at
Alexandra
The peak discharge of the Clutha River at Alexandra was recorded as 39,000 cusecs (1104 cumecs).
From a reconstructed discharge curve, the discharge of the Clutha River at Alexandra was 66700 cusecs (1889 cumecs) from a catchment area of 5315 sq miles (13,766km^2) and a gauge height of 22 ft 9 in (6.93m).
Damage to Lake county roads cost £2,040 ($167,000 2009 dollars), main highways in the Alexandra district cost £3,390 ($277,500 2009 dollars) and state highways cost £1,510 ($123,600 2009 dollars) to repair.
Flooding
at
Wanaka
Wanaka was isolated for two days.
Flooding
at
Kawarau River
Kawarau River rose 15 ft (4.57m) above normal at the gauge.
Flooding
at
Balclutha
There was slight flooding in Stirling and Balclutha districts.
Flooding
at
Clutha River
Clutha River rose up to 24 ft (7.32m) above normal.
The river reached its peak level at Cromwell in the early afternoon on the 26th.
Flooding
at
Albert Town
One of the worst wash-outs occurred on the Cardrona River near Albert Town and a bridge was carried away.
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: Serious Flooding: The Lakes District.
- Otago Daily Times, 29 October 1940.
- Headline: Worst Gale for Years: Mid-Canterbury's Experience.
- Otago Daily Times, 29 October 1940.