NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
April 1991 Lower North Island Storm
(
1991-04-08
)
23-75 years
Heavy rain in the Hawke's Bay caused damage to crops. Flooding in Wellington resulted in high damage costs and heavy stock losses.
North Island
Multi Hazard
at
North Island
Duration: 4 days - From the 8th to the 11th of April.
Hawke's Bay
Multi Hazard
at
Hawke's Bay
Heavy rain, winds, thunder and lightning swept the province on the 9th and 10th. Northern Hawke's Bay bore the brunt of the storm.
Heavy Rain
The downpour could have cost the Hawke's Bay Granny Smith growers $1,000,000 ($1,487,000 2009 dollars).
It was estimated that 100,000 carton equivalents of apples would be dumped due to damage.
Rain came at the worst time for the regions grape growers. It delayed harvesting.
Lightning
at
Flaxmere
Lightning struck a power line in Flaxmere on the 9th causing minor electrical problems.
Heavy Rain
at
Hastings
Hastings recorded 60 mm (6.0 cm) of rain in 24 hours ending 9:00am on the 10th.
Heavy Rain
at
Havelock North
Havelock North recorded 63.6 mm (6.36 cm) of rain in 24 hours ending 9:00am on the 10th.
Heavy Rain
at
Mangaorapa
Mangaorapa recorded 215 mm (21.5 cm) of rain in three days.
Flooding
at
Marumaru
The stream rose 6 m above normal.
Heavy Rain
at
Napier
Napier recorded 29.1 mm (2.91 cm) of rain in 24 hours ending 9:00am on the 10th.
High Wind / Gust
One house had roofing iron coming loose.
Heavy Rain
at
Nuhaka
400 mm (40.0 cm) of rain fell in two intense periods.
Flooding
Mangapatiki Stream burst its banks sending a waist deep torrent raging through properties. A couple clung desperately to furniture as the flood swept through their home.
Nuhaka River breached its stop banks for first time in 23 years.
Chest-high waters swept through a Nuhaka house leaving it badly damaged. The owners lost everything and water left mud and silt through the house. A vehicle was also badly damaged by the water.
Heavy Rain
at
Porangahau
Porangahau recorded 61.3 mm (6.13 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 10th.
Heavy Rain
at
Pukeorapa station
Pukeorapa recorded 211 mm (21.1 cm) of rain in 24 hours ending 9:00am on the 10th.
Heavy Rain
at
Waipukurau
Waipukurau recorded 55.5 mm (5.55 cm) of rain in 24 hours ending 9:00am on the 10th.
Waipukurau recorded 96.8 mm (9.68 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 10th.
Flooding
Water poured through shops in the main street.
The northern end of the shopping centre was a miniature lake.
At least seven stores were flooded including NZ Post. Carter Holt Building Supplies was one of the worst affected stores. A shop on the lower end of Ruataniwha Street was flooded.
Six cars were flooded.
Heavy Rain
at
Wairoa
Wairoa recorded 192.3 mm (19.23 cm) of rain in 24 hours ending 9:00am on the 10th.
Flooding
There was a lot of surface water around town.
Wairoa River rose.
One back road was closed.
Manawatu-Wanganui
Multi Hazard
at
Manawatu-Wanganui
There were 20 roads closed by slips and surface flooding on the 10th.
Heavy Rain
at
Dannevirke
Dannevirke recorded 24.2 mm (2.42 cm) of rain in 24 hours ending 9:00am on the 10th.
Dannevirke recorded 100.3 mm (10.03 cm) of rain.
Wellington
Heavy Rain
at
Wellington
About Waione, east of the Puketoi Ranges, the one and two day rainfall average recurrance interval was in excess of 150 years. It was at least 50 years in some other areas east of Manawatu Gorge.
Wellington experienced flooding on the 8th until the 11th of April.
Flooding affected the region east of Manawatu Gorge. Tinui was one of the worst hit areas.
Floodwaters and widespread slips isolated Castlepoint, Riversdale, Tinui and Mauriceville.
There was damage reported to the town water supply in Makuri and Hinemoa
It was a 75 year event.
There were electricity outages at Castlepoint, Makui, Tinui, Blairlogie, Eketahuna and Alfredton.
There were telecommunication outages at Castlepoint, Makui, Tinui, Blairlogie, Eketahuna and Alfredton.
Landslide
The weather closed the road from Featherston to Greytown. State Highway 52 at Alfredton was closed due to slips.
High Wind / Gust
There were gale force southerly winds with an average speed of 50 km/hr.
Lightning
There were various lightning strikes.
Flooding
at
Alfredton
Four people spent four hours huddled on the roof of their house before help arrived. The flood swirled through their house at window level. They were eventually plucked from the rooftop by a helicopter.
The family lost 500 lambs and all farm vehicles.
Heavy Rain
at
Hutt Valley
Hutt Central recorded 128 mm (12.8 cm) of rain in three days.
Heavy Rain
at
Tinui
Tinui recorded 150 mm (15.0 cm) of rain in four hours.
Tinui recorded 200 mm (20.0 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Tinui recorded 350 mm (35.0 cm) of rain in 48 hours.
Flooding
There were huge stock losses. At least 640 sheep were lost.
There was a huge amount of property damage.
Damage was estimated at $2,840,000 ($4,224,000 2009 dollars).
Flash floods inundated homes, causing widespread damage. Flood waters entered 15 houses.
Silt damaged properties.
Whareama River overflowed and flooded houses.
The power and telephone was cut off and the water supply was disrupted also.
The school library lost a third of its books.
Tinui school was closed.
Six houses were damaged, along with a church, a hall, a hotel and the school. Many cars were caught in the flood.
A number of houses were evacuated.
There were road closures.
Farms were damaged including some dwellings and tens of kilometres of fencing.
Heavy Rain
at
Upper Hutt
Upper Hutt recorded 99 mm (9.9 cm) of rain in three days.
Heavy Rain
at
Wainuiomata
Wainuiomata recorded 145 mm (14.5 cm) of rain in three days.
Heavy Rain
at
Wellington city
Wellington recorded 99 mm (9.9 cm) of rain in three days.
References
- Casey, C. (1996). After the rains came: The Tinui Flood of April 1991.
- Major weather events in New Zealand, FLOODS and HIGH RAINFALL to 31st May 2006
- Meteorological Society of New Zealand (Inc.) Newsletter 45, June 1991.
- Saunders, W.(2000) Planning and Resources, Hazard and Emergency Management Section, WAIRARAPA DIVISION, Wairarapa Storm Events 1880 - 1998, Technical Report No. 00/17
- Headline: Cold snap grips Wellington for fourth day.
- The Evening Post, April 11 1991.
- Headline: Flood cleanup begins.
- The Evening Post, April 12 1991.
- Headline: Four plucked from rooftop.
- The Hawkes Bay Herald, 11 April 1991.
- Headline: $1m apple loss feared.
- The Hawkes Bay Herald-Tribune, 10 April 1991.
- Headline: Shops flooded in CHB.
- The Hawkes Bay Herald-Tribune, 10 April 1991.
- Headline: Storm worst northern HB.
- The Hawkes Bay Herald-Tribune, 10 April 1991.
- Headline: Flooded cars end meeting.
- The Hawkes Bay Herald-Tribune, 11April 1991.
- Headline: Nuhaka house flooded.
- The Hawkes Bay Herald-Tribune, 11April 1991.
- Headline: Worst of storm over.
- The Hawkes Bay Herald-Tribune, 11April 1991.
April 1991 Lower North Island Storm
(
1991-04-08
)
23-75 years
Heavy rain in the Hawke's Bay caused damage to crops. Flooding in Wellington resulted in high damage costs and heavy stock losses.
North Island
Multi Hazard
at
North Island
Duration: 4 days - From the 8th to the 11th of April.
Hawke's Bay
Multi Hazard
at
Hawke's Bay
Heavy rain, winds, thunder and lightning swept the province on the 9th and 10th. Northern Hawke's Bay bore the brunt of the storm.
Heavy Rain
The downpour could have cost the Hawke's Bay Granny Smith growers $1,000,000 ($1,487,000 2009 dollars).
It was estimated that 100,000 carton equivalents of apples would be dumped due to damage.
Rain came at the worst time for the regions grape growers. It delayed harvesting.
Lightning
at
Flaxmere
Lightning struck a power line in Flaxmere on the 9th causing minor electrical problems.
Heavy Rain
at
Hastings
Hastings recorded 60 mm (6.0 cm) of rain in 24 hours ending 9:00am on the 10th.
Heavy Rain
at
Havelock North
Havelock North recorded 63.6 mm (6.36 cm) of rain in 24 hours ending 9:00am on the 10th.
Heavy Rain
at
Mangaorapa
Mangaorapa recorded 215 mm (21.5 cm) of rain in three days.
Flooding
at
Marumaru
The stream rose 6 m above normal.
Heavy Rain
at
Napier
Napier recorded 29.1 mm (2.91 cm) of rain in 24 hours ending 9:00am on the 10th.
High Wind / Gust
One house had roofing iron coming loose.
Heavy Rain
at
Nuhaka
400 mm (40.0 cm) of rain fell in two intense periods.
Flooding
Mangapatiki Stream burst its banks sending a waist deep torrent raging through properties. A couple clung desperately to furniture as the flood swept through their home.
Nuhaka River breached its stop banks for first time in 23 years.
Chest-high waters swept through a Nuhaka house leaving it badly damaged. The owners lost everything and water left mud and silt through the house. A vehicle was also badly damaged by the water.
Heavy Rain
at
Porangahau
Porangahau recorded 61.3 mm (6.13 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 10th.
Heavy Rain
at
Pukeorapa station
Pukeorapa recorded 211 mm (21.1 cm) of rain in 24 hours ending 9:00am on the 10th.
Heavy Rain
at
Waipukurau
Waipukurau recorded 55.5 mm (5.55 cm) of rain in 24 hours ending 9:00am on the 10th.
Waipukurau recorded 96.8 mm (9.68 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 10th.
Flooding
Water poured through shops in the main street.
The northern end of the shopping centre was a miniature lake.
At least seven stores were flooded including NZ Post. Carter Holt Building Supplies was one of the worst affected stores. A shop on the lower end of Ruataniwha Street was flooded.
Six cars were flooded.
Heavy Rain
at
Wairoa
Wairoa recorded 192.3 mm (19.23 cm) of rain in 24 hours ending 9:00am on the 10th.
Flooding
There was a lot of surface water around town.
Wairoa River rose.
One back road was closed.
Manawatu-Wanganui
Multi Hazard
at
Manawatu-Wanganui
There were 20 roads closed by slips and surface flooding on the 10th.
Heavy Rain
at
Dannevirke
Dannevirke recorded 24.2 mm (2.42 cm) of rain in 24 hours ending 9:00am on the 10th.
Dannevirke recorded 100.3 mm (10.03 cm) of rain.
Wellington
Heavy Rain
at
Wellington
About Waione, east of the Puketoi Ranges, the one and two day rainfall average recurrance interval was in excess of 150 years. It was at least 50 years in some other areas east of Manawatu Gorge.
Wellington experienced flooding on the 8th until the 11th of April.
Flooding affected the region east of Manawatu Gorge. Tinui was one of the worst hit areas.
Floodwaters and widespread slips isolated Castlepoint, Riversdale, Tinui and Mauriceville.
There was damage reported to the town water supply in Makuri and Hinemoa
It was a 75 year event.
There were electricity outages at Castlepoint, Makui, Tinui, Blairlogie, Eketahuna and Alfredton.
There were telecommunication outages at Castlepoint, Makui, Tinui, Blairlogie, Eketahuna and Alfredton.
Landslide
The weather closed the road from Featherston to Greytown. State Highway 52 at Alfredton was closed due to slips.
High Wind / Gust
There were gale force southerly winds with an average speed of 50 km/hr.
Lightning
There were various lightning strikes.
Flooding
at
Alfredton
Four people spent four hours huddled on the roof of their house before help arrived. The flood swirled through their house at window level. They were eventually plucked from the rooftop by a helicopter.
The family lost 500 lambs and all farm vehicles.
Heavy Rain
at
Hutt Valley
Hutt Central recorded 128 mm (12.8 cm) of rain in three days.
Heavy Rain
at
Tinui
Tinui recorded 150 mm (15.0 cm) of rain in four hours.
Tinui recorded 200 mm (20.0 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Tinui recorded 350 mm (35.0 cm) of rain in 48 hours.
Flooding
There were huge stock losses. At least 640 sheep were lost.
There was a huge amount of property damage.
Damage was estimated at $2,840,000 ($4,224,000 2009 dollars).
Flash floods inundated homes, causing widespread damage. Flood waters entered 15 houses.
Silt damaged properties.
Whareama River overflowed and flooded houses.
The power and telephone was cut off and the water supply was disrupted also.
The school library lost a third of its books.
Tinui school was closed.
Six houses were damaged, along with a church, a hall, a hotel and the school. Many cars were caught in the flood.
A number of houses were evacuated.
There were road closures.
Farms were damaged including some dwellings and tens of kilometres of fencing.
Heavy Rain
at
Upper Hutt
Upper Hutt recorded 99 mm (9.9 cm) of rain in three days.
Heavy Rain
at
Wainuiomata
Wainuiomata recorded 145 mm (14.5 cm) of rain in three days.
Heavy Rain
at
Wellington city
Wellington recorded 99 mm (9.9 cm) of rain in three days.
References
- Casey, C. (1996). After the rains came: The Tinui Flood of April 1991.
- Major weather events in New Zealand, FLOODS and HIGH RAINFALL to 31st May 2006
- Meteorological Society of New Zealand (Inc.) Newsletter 45, June 1991.
- Saunders, W.(2000) Planning and Resources, Hazard and Emergency Management Section, WAIRARAPA DIVISION, Wairarapa Storm Events 1880 - 1998, Technical Report No. 00/17
- Headline: Cold snap grips Wellington for fourth day.
- The Evening Post, April 11 1991.
- Headline: Flood cleanup begins.
- The Evening Post, April 12 1991.
- Headline: Four plucked from rooftop.
- The Hawkes Bay Herald, 11 April 1991.
- Headline: $1m apple loss feared.
- The Hawkes Bay Herald-Tribune, 10 April 1991.
- Headline: Shops flooded in CHB.
- The Hawkes Bay Herald-Tribune, 10 April 1991.
- Headline: Storm worst northern HB.
- The Hawkes Bay Herald-Tribune, 10 April 1991.
- Headline: Flooded cars end meeting.
- The Hawkes Bay Herald-Tribune, 11April 1991.
- Headline: Nuhaka house flooded.
- The Hawkes Bay Herald-Tribune, 11April 1991.
- Headline: Worst of storm over.
- The Hawkes Bay Herald-Tribune, 11April 1991.