NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue

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April 1942 West Coast Flooding ( 1942-04-04 )

Heavy Rain in the West Coast caused flooding and slips.

West Coast

FloodingFlooding at West Coast
Comments:

CommentAll rivers were in flood due to northerly storms which occurred throughout the district.

Damage CostThe damage to the Murchison county roads was £3,700 ($302,350 2009 dollars). The damage to Grey county roads was £850 ($69,460 2009 dollars) and the damage to state highways in district was£2,400 (196,120 2009 dollars).

FloodingFlooding at Buller district
Comments:

ImpactHeavy rain in Buller and Murchison areas caused severe flooding.

Affected LifelineRoads were damaged by slips and washouts.

ImpactIn the Murchison area, all rivers were in high flood.

Physical CharacteristicBuller River rose within 3 ft (0.91 m) of the decking of Longford Bridge.

Affected LifelineNumerous roads were blocked.

Affected LifelineOne bridge was washed away and another was buried by debris.

Affected LifelineIn Buller Gorge, the road was blocked by water at several places.

FloodingFlooding at South Westland
Comments:

Affected LifelineSwollen rivers caused considerable damage to bridge approaches.

Affected LifelineRoads were severely damaged by scour, slips and washouts.

Affected LifelineHeavy rain returned to Westland on the 8th and flooding washed out more roads and rail lines.

Heavy RainHeavy Rain at Greymouth
Map Location: -42.451212 171.206779
Comments:

Physical CharacteristicGreymouth recorded 4.31 in (10.95 cm) of rain in four days to the 3rd.

Physical CharacteristicGreymouth recorded 9.26 in (23.52 cm) of rain in six days to the 4th.

Physical CharacteristicGreymouth recorded 1.00 in (2.54 cm) of rain in three hours on the 4th.

FloodingFlooding
Comments:

ImpactGrey River was at a high flood level for over two days.

Affected LifelineThere were numerous slips and washouts that occurred on the roads.

FloodingFlooding at Hokitika
Map Location: -42.717176 170.960959
Comments:

CommentHokitiki River was in high flood.

ImpactMinor flooding occurred in the borough.

Affected LifelineIn Hokitika Gorge, one bridge was washed away.

Heavy RainHeavy Rain at Karangarua
Map Location: -43.53583 169.83244
Comments:

Physical CharacteristicKarangarua recorded 4.89 in (12.42 cm) of rain in 24 hours.

FloodingFlooding at Lake Rotoroa
Map Location: -41.79466 172.59414
Comments:

Physical CharacteristicLake Rotoroa outfall had a discharge of 11,600 cusecs (328 cumecs).

LandslideLandslide at Rewanui
Map Location: -42.375912 171.316415
Comments:

Affected LifelineThe most serious damage was slips on railway lines to Rewanui. This caused the stoppage of coal production from Liverpool State Mine.

References

Cowie, C.A.: Attwood, A.K. (1957) Floods in New Zealand 1920-53, The Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand, p.239.
The Southland Times, Invercargill, Monday, January 1, 1940 - Saturday, December 31, 1949, Special souvenir edition, A century of news, p. 5.

April 1942 West Coast Flooding ( 1942-04-04 )

Heavy Rain in the West Coast caused flooding and slips.

West Coast

FloodingFlooding at West Coast
Comments:

CommentAll rivers were in flood due to northerly storms which occurred throughout the district.

Damage CostThe damage to the Murchison county roads was £3,700 ($302,350 2009 dollars). The damage to Grey county roads was £850 ($69,460 2009 dollars) and the damage to state highways in district was£2,400 (196,120 2009 dollars).

FloodingFlooding at Buller district
Comments:

ImpactHeavy rain in Buller and Murchison areas caused severe flooding.

Affected LifelineRoads were damaged by slips and washouts.

ImpactIn the Murchison area, all rivers were in high flood.

Physical CharacteristicBuller River rose within 3 ft (0.91 m) of the decking of Longford Bridge.

Affected LifelineNumerous roads were blocked.

Affected LifelineOne bridge was washed away and another was buried by debris.

Affected LifelineIn Buller Gorge, the road was blocked by water at several places.

FloodingFlooding at South Westland
Comments:

Affected LifelineSwollen rivers caused considerable damage to bridge approaches.

Affected LifelineRoads were severely damaged by scour, slips and washouts.

Affected LifelineHeavy rain returned to Westland on the 8th and flooding washed out more roads and rail lines.

Heavy RainHeavy Rain at Greymouth
Map Location: -42.451212 171.206779
Comments:

Physical CharacteristicGreymouth recorded 4.31 in (10.95 cm) of rain in four days to the 3rd.

Physical CharacteristicGreymouth recorded 9.26 in (23.52 cm) of rain in six days to the 4th.

Physical CharacteristicGreymouth recorded 1.00 in (2.54 cm) of rain in three hours on the 4th.

FloodingFlooding
Comments:

ImpactGrey River was at a high flood level for over two days.

Affected LifelineThere were numerous slips and washouts that occurred on the roads.

FloodingFlooding at Hokitika
Map Location: -42.717176 170.960959
Comments:

CommentHokitiki River was in high flood.

ImpactMinor flooding occurred in the borough.

Affected LifelineIn Hokitika Gorge, one bridge was washed away.

Heavy RainHeavy Rain at Karangarua
Map Location: -43.53583 169.83244
Comments:

Physical CharacteristicKarangarua recorded 4.89 in (12.42 cm) of rain in 24 hours.

FloodingFlooding at Lake Rotoroa
Map Location: -41.79466 172.59414
Comments:

Physical CharacteristicLake Rotoroa outfall had a discharge of 11,600 cusecs (328 cumecs).

LandslideLandslide at Rewanui
Map Location: -42.375912 171.316415
Comments:

Affected LifelineThe most serious damage was slips on railway lines to Rewanui. This caused the stoppage of coal production from Liverpool State Mine.

References

Cowie, C.A.: Attwood, A.K. (1957) Floods in New Zealand 1920-53, The Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand, p.239.
The Southland Times, Invercargill, Monday, January 1, 1940 - Saturday, December 31, 1949, Special souvenir edition, A century of news, p. 5.