NZ Historic Weather Events Catalog

October 2000 New Zealand Weather Bomb ( 2000-10-11 )

40 years

A "bomb" depression brought high winds, heavy, rain, flooding and high seas to parts of the South Island and North Island. Canterbury was the main affected area, with road closures, power cuts and much damage done to property. A man was drowned on the West Coast after his boat flipped in heavy seas.

New Zealand

Multi Hazard at New Zealand

Duration: 3 days - From the 11th to the 13th of October.

Cause A rapidly deepening "bomb" depression generated in the Tasman Sea moved over the South Island. The deep low moved north-east overnight on the 12th/13th, hitting the lower North Island, and slowly moving towards the Chathams.

Comment A vicious southerly storm pounded the South Island and the lower North Island.

Affected Lifeline There were widespread power cuts.

Affected Lifeline Many roads were closed.

South Island

Multi Hazard at South Island

Damage Roads and buildings were damaged around the South Island.

Auckland

High Wind / Gust at Auckland

Peak Wind Speed Auckland was lashed by winds gusting up to 100 km/hr on the 12th.

Impact At least two boats broke from their moorings.

High Wind / Gust at Clevedon

Affected Lifeline A fallen tree closed Twilight Road in Clevedon.

Waikato

Snow / Ice at Taupo

Comment Snow fell in the foothills around Taupo, and in rural farm areas west of Taupo.

Snow / Ice at Turangi

Comment Snow fell in the foothills around Turangi.

Hawke's Bay

High Wind / Gust at Hawke's Bay

The wind caused crop damage in Hawke's Bay. Asparagus crops were damaged.

Manawatu-Wanganui

Snow / Ice at Desert Road

Affected Lifeline Heavy snowfalls closed the Desert Road for most of the day on the 12th.

Snow / Ice at Whakapapa Skifield

Peak Snow Depth Up to 25 cm snow fell on the Whakapapa skifields.

Wellington

High Wind / Gust at Wellington

Physical Characteristic Winds of up to 50 km/hr struck Wellington on the 12th.

Damage Winds brought down trees and power and telephone poles.

Maritime / Coastal at Cook Strait

Affected Lifeline Cook Strait ferries sailings were cancelled on the 12th. The 6pm and 9:30pm Interislander ferry sailings were cancelled.

Cook Strait recorded a peak wind speed of 161 km/hr on the 12th.

Maritime / Coastal at Eastbourne

Affected Lifeline Eastbourne Road was closed when debris was thrown onto it from the sea.

West Coast

Maritime / Coastal at Okuru River

Casualties A fisherman man was lost at sea after his boat flipped in heavy seas on the Okuru River bar just before 7:30am on the 12th. His body was found on the beach at Waita.

Canterbury

Multi Hazard at Canterbury

Comment Banks Peninsula, the Kaikoura Coast and other parts of Canterbury felt the effects of the severe southerly storm on the 12th. Wind and rain lashed the region. The storm eased on the morning of the 13th.

Physical Characteristic The Plains and the coast had heavy rain and wind generally blustering to about 60 km/hr.

Affected Lifeline Damage was done to roads and bridges. Many highways in North Canterbury were hit by high winds, flooding and fallen trees. The weather made driving conditions difficult throughout the province.

Impact One truck was blown over.

Comment It was the worst storm in the Canterbury region for several years.

Impact The storm forced nearly 20 Canterbury people to flee their homes.

Insurance Payment Insurance Industry Payouts for the Canterbury Storms totalled $9,400,000 ($11,600,000 2008 dollars).

Flooding

Affected Lifeline Heavy rain caused widespread surface flooding.

High Wind / Gust

Damage The wind brought down trees in parts of the region.

Affected Lifeline Falling trees and branches dragged down overhead powerlines across the city and into mid-Canterbury on the 12th. Power was cut to 9000 homes in the Canterbury region, from Banks Peninsula through Chirstchurch and North Canterbury to Kaikoura. Overhead powerlines were still being brought down overnight on the 12th/13th. The power cuts lasted until the 14th in some places.

Physical Characteristic Some experts claimed gusts of 170-180 km/hr screamed across the region.

Maritime / Coastal

Comment Winds created big seas off the coast.

Landslide

Damage A house was threatened by a slip.

Maritime / Coastal at Akaroa

Damage A yacht was driven ashore at Akaroa.

Flooding at Banks Peninsula

Evacuees Homes on Bank Peninsula were evacuated.

High Wind / Gust

Physical Characteristic Banks Peninsula had wind gusts of up to about 100 km/hr on the 11th.

Snow / Ice

Comment Snow flurries swept Banks Peninsula on the 11th.

Heavy Rain at Christchurch

Physical Characteristic Christchurch city recorded 70 mm (7.0 cm) of rain in 48 hours.

Flooding

Comment The Avon and Heathcote Rivers flooded.

Affected Lifeline Waist-deep flood waters closed Christchurch roads.

Impact Floodwaters inundated the Redcliffs-Sumner area, and threatened homes.

Evacuees Police and the Army helped evacuate about 30 people living near the Heathcote River in the Bexley area as high tide approached in late afternoon on the 12th.

Property Damage There were reports of water damage in central city commercial buildings.

Affected Lifeline The Heathcote River breached its banks near Colombo Street, and flooded the road.

Impact The flood waters were up to letterbox height on many properties.

High Wind / Gust

Damage The wind brought down trees throughout the city and on the Port Hills. Hundreds of trees were felled. One car was destroyed.

Affected Lifeline 6000 homes in pockets around the city and on Banks Peninsula were affected by power cuts on the 12th, including Lyttelton, Governors Bay, Cashmere, Sumner, Marshland and Spencerville. Some homes were still without power and water on the morning of the 13th.

Physical Characteristic Sumner recorded wind gusts of 120 km/hr.

Physical Characteristic Christchurch Airport recorded gusts of over 90 km/hr.

Property Damage Buildings around the city suffered, with roofs being lifted and walls and fences being stove in.

Impact Christchurch Botanic Gardens was closed for safety reasons.

Multi Hazard

Impact The weather closed Linwood High School.

Impact The Fire Service had received over 120 calls from 8am on the 12th.

Comment Officials described the storm as a one-in 40-year event.

Multi Hazard at Diamond Harbour

Impact The weather closed Diamond Harbour School.

High Wind / Gust at Kaikoura

Affected Lifeline Power cuts occurred at Kaikoura.

High Wind / Gust at Le Bons Bay

Physical Characteristic Le Bons Bay had a mean wind speed of 120 km/hr on the morning of the 12th.

Physical Characteristic Le Bons Bay recorded winds of 111 km/hr.

High Wind / Gust at Lyttelton

Affected Lifeline Westerly winds closed Lyttelton port at 5:30am on the 12th. A cruise ship was ordered to bypass the port.

Damage The unfinished marina was devastated, and virtually all gone.

Damage The winds tossed moored boats about and ripped some from their marina moorings. About 30 boats sank around Lyttelton and many more were damaged. The majority of Canterbury's keeler racing fleet was destroyed.

Peak Wind Speed Lyttleton recorded a peak wind gust of 93 km/hr.

Comment The Lyttelton Harboumaster said the storm was exceptional, and had not seen such severe conditions in 30 years of ship handling.

Multi Hazard

Affected Lifeline Lyttelton and its port were isolated on the 12th, with all access roads closed. Roads between Christchurch and the port were cut by felled trees and overhead lines and slips. The main over hill road links to Lyttelton were still cut on the morning of the 13th, with the only direct route through the tunnel.

Damage The overall damage was expected to run into millions of dollars.

Maritime / Coastal

Physical Characteristic Wave were up to 6 m high.

Snow / Ice at Mount Hutt Skifield

Physical Characteristic Mt Hutt skifield received 20 cm of snow overnight on the 11th/12th.

High Wind / Gust at Rakaia Huts

Affected Lifeline Power cuts occurred in Rakaia Huts.

Southland

Multi Hazard at Southland

Affected Lifeline The Te Anau-Milford Road was closed on the 12th.

References

Insurance Councils. The Cost of Weather Loses, Claims History (Updated 2004).
Major weather events in New Zealand, Floods and High Rainfall, Floods to 31st July 2006.
www.metservice, notable weather events.govt.nz.
Meteorological Society of New Zealand (Inc.) Newsletter 83, December 2000.
Headline: Evacuations in Christchurch as storm rages.: www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: IRN, 12 October 2000.
Headline: Storm closes Lyttelton port.: www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: IRN and Christchurch Star, 12 October 2000.
Headline: Big clean up after 'half-century' storm batters Christchurch.: www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: Christchurch Star and IRN, 13 October 2000.
Headline: South licking wounds after brutal storm.: www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZ Herald and NZPA, 13 October 2000.
Headline: Storm keeps ferries in port.: www.nzherald.co.nz, 13 October 2000, 10:20am.
Headline: Calls for inquiry after marina disaster.: www.nzherald.co.nz, 16 October 2000.