NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
April 1895 New Zealand Storm
(
1895-04-12
)
A severe storm caused flooding and high winds in the lower North Island and the upper South Island.
Hawke's Bay
Heavy Rain
at
Napier
A good deal of rain fell on the coast but there was not an abnormally high fall inland.
The bush districts were the greatest sufferers.
Manawatu-Wanganui
Flooding
at
Pahiatua
At Pahiatua the water was 3 ft (91cm) deep in the streets on the 15th.
It was reported that many bridges were carried away.
It was some time before railway communication was fully restored.
Pahiatua was completely cut off by the Mangatoinoko River which flooded the township.
All roads, except that to Woodville, were impassable.
Telegraph wires were down.
Great damage done in the country and it was believed that serious damage had been done at Woodville also.
Heavy Rain
at
Woodville
Woodville recorded 8in (20.32cm) over the duration of the storm.
Woodville recorded 5in (12.7cm) in 24 hours over the 14th.
Flooding
The Woodville flood was heaviest experienced there since 1879.
One farmer had 400 sheep drowned. Cattle losses are not yet known and another farmer also lost a lot of sheep.
A good deal of damage was done to the main road.
5000 yards of earth fell on the Gorge railway line and the road was also blocked.
Great inconvenience resulted from Ashurst bridge being washed away and settlers were unable to get stock through the gorge.
Communication with Kumeroa district was cut off and the Manawatu bridge was washed away.
Wellington
Multi Hazard
at
Wellington City
Duration: 3 days - There had been heavier rains and fiercer gales but no one could remember a storm so continuously severe for three days and nights for many years at least.
A southerly gale sprang up on the night of the 12th and blew all through the 13th and was accompanied with drenching driving rain. On the night of the 14th it increased in force and continued all day with unabated fury. On the 15th the gale abated to some extent after midnight, but it was still squally and showery.
Heavy Rain
Wellington recorded over 10in (25.4cm) of rain over the duration of the storm.
High Wind / Gust
It was one of the most fierce gales experienced in Wellington for some years.
Shipping movements were entirely suspended and no vessels left or arrived in port on the 14th.
The Duco which was to leave from Picton was also postponed.
In town no serious damage was reported.
Several yachts were damaged by sinking or drifting.
Numerous chimneys and trees suffered.
Fences in more exposed places blew down.
All day on the 14th the harbour was a seething mass of foam and it was impossible to see land on the opposite side.
In some portions of town the water flooded footpaths.
At the Hutt and Petone half the district was under water to depth of 4 or 5 ft (1.22-1.52m).
Many families near the river bank were removed to higher localities.
Railway lines suffered to some degree.
Between Wellington and Hutt and also at Eketahuna, there has been interruption and telegraphic communication with rest of the colony was seriously interrupted.
Damage was reported between Palmerston and Wanganui.
There was very little visible damage but houses suffered on the inside to extent unknown before as the wind forced water through the walls.
Wellington seemed to have been the very centre and focus of the storm. It lasted longer here than anywhere else and was accompanied by the heaviest all of rain.
Flooding
at
Masterton
Waipoua and Ruamahanga Rivers overflowed in Wairarapa.
The Waipoua caused some fear for safety of Masterton and a large portion of the town was under water.
A milkman was washed down the river and nearly drowned.
A large area was under water in other parts of the valley.
A 17 years old male was riding along Waikare Rd when the bank collapsed. The man and his horse fell into Akatarawa River and drowned.
At Masterton the water was 3 ft (91cm) deep in the streets on the 15th.
It was reported that many bridges were carried away.
It was some time before railway communication was fully restored.
Marlborough
High Wind / Gust
at
Picton
Duration: 2 days - During the 13th and the morning of the 14th Picton was visited by a gale of almost unprecedented severity. By noon on the 14th the gale had gone down considerably.
The gale caused a great deal of damage.
When the storm was at its height on the night of the 13th, a large corrugated iron building belonging to Railway Department was blown down and four racing boats stored there were smashed.
A chimney in Terminus Hotel was blown down, smashing through the roof and wrecked a bedroom and sitting room.
A schoolhouse being constructed for the Presbyterian Church was levelled to the ground.
The roof of a dwelling house was blown off.
Orchards and gardens suffered considerable damage.
The ketch 'Lily' sank at her moorings.
Maritime / Coastal
All events of the championship regatta were postponed until the 16th due to heavy sea.
Multi Hazard
at
Cape Campbell
The steamer 'R.M.S. Aorangi' took refuge and anchored at noon on the 13th. But the storm increased and at midnight one anchor cable parted and the other failed to hold. She left for Wellington at 5pm on the 14th but off Stephen's Island the seas were running so high the voyage couldn't be resumed until midnight.
West Coast
High Wind / Gust
at
Westport
A south east gale blew all of the 13th.
Great damage was done to houses and fences.
A man was killed at Addison's Flat by a tree falling on his tent.
High Wind / Gust
at
Greymouth
A very strong wind prevailed on the night of the 13th.
Many trees and fences were blown down and some houses were unroofed.
Canterbury
Multi Hazard
at
Christchurch
Weather was rough, wintry and wild.
Snow / Ice
Snow fell in the country at Malvern to a depth of 4in (10.2cm).
References
- Headline: Storm in Cook Strait: Christchurch, April 15.
- Southland Times, 16 August 1895.
- Headline: Storm in Cook Strait: Greymouth, April 14.
- Southland Times, 16 August 1895.
- Headline: Storm in Cook Strait: Picton, April 14.
- Southland Times, 16 August 1895.
- Headline: Storm in Cook Strait: Picton, April 15.
- Southland Times, 16 August 1895.
- Headline: Storm in Cook Strait: Wellington, April 14.
- Southland Times, 16 August 1895.
- Headline: Storm in Cook Strait: Wellington, April 15.
- Southland Times, 16 August 1895.
- Headline: Storm in Cook Strait: Westport, April 14.
- Southland Times, 16 August 1895.
- Headline: The Storm in the North: Wellington, April 16.
- Southland Times, 17 August 1895.
- Headline: The Storm in the North: Napier, April 16.
- Southland Times, 17 August 1895.
- Headline: The Storm in the North: Wellington, April 17.
- Southland Times, 19 August 1895.
April 1895 New Zealand Storm
(
1895-04-12
)
A severe storm caused flooding and high winds in the lower North Island and the upper South Island.
Hawke's Bay
Heavy Rain
at
Napier
A good deal of rain fell on the coast but there was not an abnormally high fall inland.
The bush districts were the greatest sufferers.
Manawatu-Wanganui
Flooding
at
Pahiatua
At Pahiatua the water was 3 ft (91cm) deep in the streets on the 15th.
It was reported that many bridges were carried away.
It was some time before railway communication was fully restored.
Pahiatua was completely cut off by the Mangatoinoko River which flooded the township.
All roads, except that to Woodville, were impassable.
Telegraph wires were down.
Great damage done in the country and it was believed that serious damage had been done at Woodville also.
Heavy Rain
at
Woodville
Woodville recorded 8in (20.32cm) over the duration of the storm.
Woodville recorded 5in (12.7cm) in 24 hours over the 14th.
Flooding
The Woodville flood was heaviest experienced there since 1879.
One farmer had 400 sheep drowned. Cattle losses are not yet known and another farmer also lost a lot of sheep.
A good deal of damage was done to the main road.
5000 yards of earth fell on the Gorge railway line and the road was also blocked.
Great inconvenience resulted from Ashurst bridge being washed away and settlers were unable to get stock through the gorge.
Communication with Kumeroa district was cut off and the Manawatu bridge was washed away.
Wellington
Multi Hazard
at
Wellington City
Duration: 3 days - There had been heavier rains and fiercer gales but no one could remember a storm so continuously severe for three days and nights for many years at least.
A southerly gale sprang up on the night of the 12th and blew all through the 13th and was accompanied with drenching driving rain. On the night of the 14th it increased in force and continued all day with unabated fury. On the 15th the gale abated to some extent after midnight, but it was still squally and showery.
Heavy Rain
Wellington recorded over 10in (25.4cm) of rain over the duration of the storm.
High Wind / Gust
It was one of the most fierce gales experienced in Wellington for some years.
Shipping movements were entirely suspended and no vessels left or arrived in port on the 14th.
The Duco which was to leave from Picton was also postponed.
In town no serious damage was reported.
Several yachts were damaged by sinking or drifting.
Numerous chimneys and trees suffered.
Fences in more exposed places blew down.
All day on the 14th the harbour was a seething mass of foam and it was impossible to see land on the opposite side.
In some portions of town the water flooded footpaths.
At the Hutt and Petone half the district was under water to depth of 4 or 5 ft (1.22-1.52m).
Many families near the river bank were removed to higher localities.
Railway lines suffered to some degree.
Between Wellington and Hutt and also at Eketahuna, there has been interruption and telegraphic communication with rest of the colony was seriously interrupted.
Damage was reported between Palmerston and Wanganui.
There was very little visible damage but houses suffered on the inside to extent unknown before as the wind forced water through the walls.
Wellington seemed to have been the very centre and focus of the storm. It lasted longer here than anywhere else and was accompanied by the heaviest all of rain.
Flooding
at
Masterton
Waipoua and Ruamahanga Rivers overflowed in Wairarapa.
The Waipoua caused some fear for safety of Masterton and a large portion of the town was under water.
A milkman was washed down the river and nearly drowned.
A large area was under water in other parts of the valley.
A 17 years old male was riding along Waikare Rd when the bank collapsed. The man and his horse fell into Akatarawa River and drowned.
At Masterton the water was 3 ft (91cm) deep in the streets on the 15th.
It was reported that many bridges were carried away.
It was some time before railway communication was fully restored.
Marlborough
High Wind / Gust
at
Picton
Duration: 2 days - During the 13th and the morning of the 14th Picton was visited by a gale of almost unprecedented severity. By noon on the 14th the gale had gone down considerably.
The gale caused a great deal of damage.
When the storm was at its height on the night of the 13th, a large corrugated iron building belonging to Railway Department was blown down and four racing boats stored there were smashed.
A chimney in Terminus Hotel was blown down, smashing through the roof and wrecked a bedroom and sitting room.
A schoolhouse being constructed for the Presbyterian Church was levelled to the ground.
The roof of a dwelling house was blown off.
Orchards and gardens suffered considerable damage.
The ketch 'Lily' sank at her moorings.
Maritime / Coastal
All events of the championship regatta were postponed until the 16th due to heavy sea.
Multi Hazard
at
Cape Campbell
The steamer 'R.M.S. Aorangi' took refuge and anchored at noon on the 13th. But the storm increased and at midnight one anchor cable parted and the other failed to hold. She left for Wellington at 5pm on the 14th but off Stephen's Island the seas were running so high the voyage couldn't be resumed until midnight.
West Coast
High Wind / Gust
at
Westport
A south east gale blew all of the 13th.
Great damage was done to houses and fences.
A man was killed at Addison's Flat by a tree falling on his tent.
High Wind / Gust
at
Greymouth
A very strong wind prevailed on the night of the 13th.
Many trees and fences were blown down and some houses were unroofed.
Canterbury
Multi Hazard
at
Christchurch
Weather was rough, wintry and wild.
Snow / Ice
Snow fell in the country at Malvern to a depth of 4in (10.2cm).
References
- Headline: Storm in Cook Strait: Christchurch, April 15.
- Southland Times, 16 August 1895.
- Headline: Storm in Cook Strait: Greymouth, April 14.
- Southland Times, 16 August 1895.
- Headline: Storm in Cook Strait: Picton, April 14.
- Southland Times, 16 August 1895.
- Headline: Storm in Cook Strait: Picton, April 15.
- Southland Times, 16 August 1895.
- Headline: Storm in Cook Strait: Wellington, April 14.
- Southland Times, 16 August 1895.
- Headline: Storm in Cook Strait: Wellington, April 15.
- Southland Times, 16 August 1895.
- Headline: Storm in Cook Strait: Westport, April 14.
- Southland Times, 16 August 1895.
- Headline: The Storm in the North: Wellington, April 16.
- Southland Times, 17 August 1895.
- Headline: The Storm in the North: Napier, April 16.
- Southland Times, 17 August 1895.
- Headline: The Storm in the North: Wellington, April 17.
- Southland Times, 19 August 1895.