NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
April 1957 Tasman-Nelson and Marlborough Flooding
(
1957-04-12
)
After six days of heavy rain up to the 12th of April, Tasman-Nelson experienced severe flooding. Heavy rain commenced in Marlborough on the 15th causing less severe flooding.
South Island
Multi Hazard
at
South Island
Duration: 7 days - Heavy rain and flooding in Tasman-Nelson and Marlborough lasted from the 12th to the 18th of April.
Tasman-Nelson
Heavy Rain
at
Tasman-Nelson
Around Motueka River and Waimea Plain, 483 mm (48.3 cm) of rain was recorded over six days up to the 12th.
There was prolonged widespread rain in the Motueka and Waimea catchments, from the 13th to the 18th of April, with intensities exceeding 1 in (2.54 cm) of rain per hour.
Flooding
The main flood producing rains fell mostly on catchments already saturated and occurred during the period of the northerly airstream from the 15th to the 17th.
The heaviest falls were recorded in the mountainous areas of north-west Nelson.
Severe flooding, reputedly the worst in living memory, occurred throughout Motueka and Waimea catchments.
Overall flood damage in the Nelson province included widespread damage to highway and roads and the loss of numerous small bridges estimated at £120,000 ($9,423,000 2009 dollars).
£32,750 ($2,571,600 2009 dollars) was for restoration of river works mainly in the Motueka and associated catchments.
Heavy Rain
at
Bainham
Bainham recorded 19.1 in (48.5 cm) of rain.
Flooding
at
Baton River
The Baton River had a discharge of 16,440 cusecs (466 cumecs) at the Loveridge Bridge, with a catchment area of 83 sq miles (215 km^2).
Flooding
at
Brightwater
There was flood water across the highway between Brightwater and Belgrove.
The stopbanks of the Wai-iti River breached in two places and the left bank below Brightwater Bridge overtopped continuously for four days.
Heavy Rain
at
Cobb Valley
Cobb catchment area received 6.5 in (16.51 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 15th.
Landslide
Telephone and road communication to Cobb Valley was severed by slips.
Heavy Rain
at
Golden Bay
There was heavy rain in Golden Bay.
Heavy Rain
at
Motueka River
The northern part of the Motueka River received 15 in (38.1 cm) of rain.
The upper Motueka River received 7.5 in (19.05 cm) of rain.
Flooding
The Motueka River had a gauge height of 15.1 ft (4.60 m) at the Baton Bridge with a catchment area of 636 sq miles (1647 km^2).
The most pronounced flooding occurred in the Motueka catchment.
The flood of the Motueka River was thought to be greater than the noteworthy flood of 1878.
The second flood peak caused most of the damage.
The stopbanks breached in two places.
During the peak of the flood the deck of Alexander Bluff Bridge was awash, as were girders of the Main Highway Bridge.
Flats adjacent and below Alexanders Bluff Bridge were inundated, practically from hill to hill.
The highway on the right (east) bank was covered with approximately 5 ft (1.52 m) of water and the highway on the opposite bank was impassable.
Landslide
Many streams and creeks were dammed by slips and debris burst through on to flats causing extensive damage.
Flooding
at
Nelson
The state highway from Nelson to Takaka and Nelson to Westport was impassable.
Flooding
at
Pupu Springs
There were some stock losses in the Pupu area.
Flooding
at
Takaka
Floods blocked the State Highway between Takaka and Collingwood.
One house (approximately four people) in the Takaka township was evacuated and a number of houses were surrounded by the flood.
Landslide
at
Takaka Hill
There were numerous slips on Takaka Hill and across road near Kawatiri.
Flooding
at
Uruwhenua
Stock losses were feared to be high.
Flooding
at
Wai-iti River
Wai-iti River had a discharge of 14,000 cusecs (396 cumecs) at Brightwater Bridge.
Heavy Rain
at
Waimea Plains
Waimea Plains recorded 6-9 in (15-23 cm) of rain.
Flooding
at
Waimea River
Waimea west was badly flooded.
The county road was impassable at three places as was Richmond-Collingwood highway near Eves Valley.
Flooding
at
Waitapu
Flood water surrounded houses and businesses.
Flood water cut the highway at Pages Hollow.
Marlborough
Flooding
at
Goulter River
Goulter River had a discharge of 14,400 cusecs (408 cumecs) with a catchment area of 62 sq miles (161 km^2).
Flooding
at
Timms Creek
Timms Creek had a discharge of 2960 cusecs (84 cumecs) with a catchment area of 13.2 sq miles (34 km^2).
Flooding
at
Waihopai River
Waihopai River had a discharge of 15,000 cusecs (425 cumecs) at the Craiglockart Bridge, with a catchment area of 295 sq miles (764 km^2).
Heavy Rain
at
Wairau River
There was continuous rain over the Wairau catchment from midday on the 15th.
Flooding
Surface flooding was experienced in upper Pukaka, Grovetown and other small areas.
In the Wairau Valley and the Hillersden area, all local streams caused trouble in varying degrees and the main west highway was flooded for many miles.
In the height of flood the position of the settlers in the lower reaches of the rivers was critical. Only a few inches of freeboard were left on the lower Opawa stopbanks.
The damage to the river works within the Wairau River totalled £11,780 ($925,000 2009 dollars).
Wairau River had a discharge of 79,000 cusecs (2237 cumecs) at the Tuamarina M.H. Bridge, with a catchment area of 1325 sq miles (3432 km^2) and a gauge height of 20.3 ft (6.19 m).
References
- Hydrology Annual No.5 1957, Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand
- Major weather events in New Zealand, FLOODS AND HIGH RAINFALL, Floods to 31st July 2006
- Nelson - Marlborough Regional Council, Takaka Flood Frequency, Maps and Newspapers., Reports of Historical Floods; 1991, published, Nelson-Marlborough Regional Council,pp.61.
April 1957 Tasman-Nelson and Marlborough Flooding
(
1957-04-12
)
After six days of heavy rain up to the 12th of April, Tasman-Nelson experienced severe flooding. Heavy rain commenced in Marlborough on the 15th causing less severe flooding.
South Island
Multi Hazard
at
South Island
Duration: 7 days - Heavy rain and flooding in Tasman-Nelson and Marlborough lasted from the 12th to the 18th of April.
Tasman-Nelson
Heavy Rain
at
Tasman-Nelson
Around Motueka River and Waimea Plain, 483 mm (48.3 cm) of rain was recorded over six days up to the 12th.
There was prolonged widespread rain in the Motueka and Waimea catchments, from the 13th to the 18th of April, with intensities exceeding 1 in (2.54 cm) of rain per hour.
Flooding
The main flood producing rains fell mostly on catchments already saturated and occurred during the period of the northerly airstream from the 15th to the 17th.
The heaviest falls were recorded in the mountainous areas of north-west Nelson.
Severe flooding, reputedly the worst in living memory, occurred throughout Motueka and Waimea catchments.
Overall flood damage in the Nelson province included widespread damage to highway and roads and the loss of numerous small bridges estimated at £120,000 ($9,423,000 2009 dollars).
£32,750 ($2,571,600 2009 dollars) was for restoration of river works mainly in the Motueka and associated catchments.
Heavy Rain
at
Bainham
Bainham recorded 19.1 in (48.5 cm) of rain.
Flooding
at
Baton River
The Baton River had a discharge of 16,440 cusecs (466 cumecs) at the Loveridge Bridge, with a catchment area of 83 sq miles (215 km^2).
Flooding
at
Brightwater
There was flood water across the highway between Brightwater and Belgrove.
The stopbanks of the Wai-iti River breached in two places and the left bank below Brightwater Bridge overtopped continuously for four days.
Heavy Rain
at
Cobb Valley
Cobb catchment area received 6.5 in (16.51 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 15th.
Landslide
Telephone and road communication to Cobb Valley was severed by slips.
Heavy Rain
at
Golden Bay
There was heavy rain in Golden Bay.
Heavy Rain
at
Motueka River
The northern part of the Motueka River received 15 in (38.1 cm) of rain.
The upper Motueka River received 7.5 in (19.05 cm) of rain.
Flooding
The Motueka River had a gauge height of 15.1 ft (4.60 m) at the Baton Bridge with a catchment area of 636 sq miles (1647 km^2).
The most pronounced flooding occurred in the Motueka catchment.
The flood of the Motueka River was thought to be greater than the noteworthy flood of 1878.
The second flood peak caused most of the damage.
The stopbanks breached in two places.
During the peak of the flood the deck of Alexander Bluff Bridge was awash, as were girders of the Main Highway Bridge.
Flats adjacent and below Alexanders Bluff Bridge were inundated, practically from hill to hill.
The highway on the right (east) bank was covered with approximately 5 ft (1.52 m) of water and the highway on the opposite bank was impassable.
Landslide
Many streams and creeks were dammed by slips and debris burst through on to flats causing extensive damage.
Flooding
at
Nelson
The state highway from Nelson to Takaka and Nelson to Westport was impassable.
Flooding
at
Pupu Springs
There were some stock losses in the Pupu area.
Flooding
at
Takaka
Floods blocked the State Highway between Takaka and Collingwood.
One house (approximately four people) in the Takaka township was evacuated and a number of houses were surrounded by the flood.
Landslide
at
Takaka Hill
There were numerous slips on Takaka Hill and across road near Kawatiri.
Flooding
at
Uruwhenua
Stock losses were feared to be high.
Flooding
at
Wai-iti River
Wai-iti River had a discharge of 14,000 cusecs (396 cumecs) at Brightwater Bridge.
Heavy Rain
at
Waimea Plains
Waimea Plains recorded 6-9 in (15-23 cm) of rain.
Flooding
at
Waimea River
Waimea west was badly flooded.
The county road was impassable at three places as was Richmond-Collingwood highway near Eves Valley.
Flooding
at
Waitapu
Flood water surrounded houses and businesses.
Flood water cut the highway at Pages Hollow.
Marlborough
Flooding
at
Goulter River
Goulter River had a discharge of 14,400 cusecs (408 cumecs) with a catchment area of 62 sq miles (161 km^2).
Flooding
at
Timms Creek
Timms Creek had a discharge of 2960 cusecs (84 cumecs) with a catchment area of 13.2 sq miles (34 km^2).
Flooding
at
Waihopai River
Waihopai River had a discharge of 15,000 cusecs (425 cumecs) at the Craiglockart Bridge, with a catchment area of 295 sq miles (764 km^2).
Heavy Rain
at
Wairau River
There was continuous rain over the Wairau catchment from midday on the 15th.
Flooding
Surface flooding was experienced in upper Pukaka, Grovetown and other small areas.
In the Wairau Valley and the Hillersden area, all local streams caused trouble in varying degrees and the main west highway was flooded for many miles.
In the height of flood the position of the settlers in the lower reaches of the rivers was critical. Only a few inches of freeboard were left on the lower Opawa stopbanks.
The damage to the river works within the Wairau River totalled £11,780 ($925,000 2009 dollars).
Wairau River had a discharge of 79,000 cusecs (2237 cumecs) at the Tuamarina M.H. Bridge, with a catchment area of 1325 sq miles (3432 km^2) and a gauge height of 20.3 ft (6.19 m).
References
- Hydrology Annual No.5 1957, Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand
- Major weather events in New Zealand, FLOODS AND HIGH RAINFALL, Floods to 31st July 2006
- Nelson - Marlborough Regional Council, Takaka Flood Frequency, Maps and Newspapers., Reports of Historical Floods; 1991, published, Nelson-Marlborough Regional Council,pp.61.