NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue

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April 1948 Gisborne and Hawke's Bay Thunderstorm ( 1948-04-02 )

A person was killed by a lightning strike during an electrical storm in Matawai.

Gisborne

FloodingFlooding at Gisborne
Comments:

Affected LifelineThe railway line was blocked between Gisborne and Wairoa due to a washout at the northern end of the Tikiwhata tunnel.

Affected LifelineThe Gisborne-Wairoa highway via Morere was underwater on the Whakaki flats.

LightningLightning at Matawai
Map Location: -38.356439 177.53729
Comments:

CommentThere was an electrical storm in Matawai on the 2nd April 1948.

CasualtiesOne person was killed by a lightning strike at 2:30pm.

Heavy RainHeavy Rain at Paritu
Map Location: -38.94814 177.90348
Comments:

Physical CharacteristicParitu recorded 5.5 in (13.97 cm) of rain in 24 hours ending at 9am on the 3rd.

CommentThere was exceptionally heavy rain in Paritu.

Hawke's Bay

Multi HazardMulti Hazard at Putorino
Map Location: -39.13145 176.99983
Comments:

ImpactThere were small slips and washouts in the area of Putorino between Napier and Wairoa.

LandslideLandslide at Raupunga
Map Location: -39.07174 177.14777
Comments:

Affected LifelineThere were slips on the railway line at Raupunga.

Multi HazardMulti Hazard at Tangoio
Map Location: -39.327667 176.914911
Comments:

Affected LifelineThe Wairoa-Napier Road was blocked badly in the area of Tangoio. The road was blocked by a slip at Kotemaori and a washout at Waikare.

LightningLightning at Wairoa
Map Location: -39.041861 177.423248
Comments:

DamageThere was a severe electrical storm in Wairoa from 8pm on the 2nd to the early hours of the morning but only minor damage was reported.

References

Headline: Serious rail blockage on Gisborne-Wairoa line.
The Gisborne Herald, 3 April 1948.
Tomlinson, A.I. (1976). Frequency of thunderstorms in New Zealand. N.Z. Journal of Science, 1976, Vol.19.

April 1948 Gisborne and Hawke's Bay Thunderstorm ( 1948-04-02 )

A person was killed by a lightning strike during an electrical storm in Matawai.

Gisborne

FloodingFlooding at Gisborne
Comments:

Affected LifelineThe railway line was blocked between Gisborne and Wairoa due to a washout at the northern end of the Tikiwhata tunnel.

Affected LifelineThe Gisborne-Wairoa highway via Morere was underwater on the Whakaki flats.

LightningLightning at Matawai
Map Location: -38.356439 177.53729
Comments:

CommentThere was an electrical storm in Matawai on the 2nd April 1948.

CasualtiesOne person was killed by a lightning strike at 2:30pm.

Heavy RainHeavy Rain at Paritu
Map Location: -38.94814 177.90348
Comments:

Physical CharacteristicParitu recorded 5.5 in (13.97 cm) of rain in 24 hours ending at 9am on the 3rd.

CommentThere was exceptionally heavy rain in Paritu.

Hawke's Bay

Multi HazardMulti Hazard at Putorino
Map Location: -39.13145 176.99983
Comments:

ImpactThere were small slips and washouts in the area of Putorino between Napier and Wairoa.

LandslideLandslide at Raupunga
Map Location: -39.07174 177.14777
Comments:

Affected LifelineThere were slips on the railway line at Raupunga.

Multi HazardMulti Hazard at Tangoio
Map Location: -39.327667 176.914911
Comments:

Affected LifelineThe Wairoa-Napier Road was blocked badly in the area of Tangoio. The road was blocked by a slip at Kotemaori and a washout at Waikare.

LightningLightning at Wairoa
Map Location: -39.041861 177.423248
Comments:

DamageThere was a severe electrical storm in Wairoa from 8pm on the 2nd to the early hours of the morning but only minor damage was reported.

References

Headline: Serious rail blockage on Gisborne-Wairoa line.
The Gisborne Herald, 3 April 1948.
Tomlinson, A.I. (1976). Frequency of thunderstorms in New Zealand. N.Z. Journal of Science, 1976, Vol.19.