NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
April 1995 Taranaki Flooding ( 1995-04-21 )
Heavy rain caused severe flooding in New Plymouth. 20 families in New Plymouth were evacuated.
Taranaki
Multi Hazard
at
Taranaki
A frontal band, between the two ridges, extended from central New Zealand to the area just west of Taranaki then into a pre-existing trough of low pressure in the north Tasman Sea. It was the area of low pressure in the North Tasman that was primarily responsible for keeping the front slow moving west of Taranaki. The ridge over northern New Zealand also had a role here. The front remained slow moving west of Taranaki until the evening of the 22nd when it moved to the north of the area.
Flooding
State Highway 3, south of New Plymouth, and 3A (between Inglewood and Waitara) was closed.
Heavy Rain
at
New Plymouth
New Plymouth recorded 134 mm (13.4 cm) of rain in five hours just before 12pm on the 21st (which has a return period of over 150 years).
New Plymouth recorded 151 mm (15.1 cm) of rain in less than six hours. This equalled the 24 hour record for rainfall set in March 1990.
New Plymouth recorded 45 mm (4.5 cm) of rain in one hour.
The annual reccurrance interval for the rainfall was over a 100 year event.
It was one of wettest days in the New Plymouth history. There was a nine hour period of high intensity rainfall. Shortlty after the heavy downpour, the rain eased off but did continue to fall, with some heavy bursts, right through to the 23rd April.
Flooding
The insurance industry payouts for the New Plymouth floods was $3,600,000 in 1995 ($4,959,400 2010 dollars).
Commercial claims totalled $1,500,000 ($2,066,400 2010 dollars).
Household claims totalled $1,200,000 ($1,653,100 2010 dollars).
There was widespread flooding in New Plymouth which caused extensive damage.
Along South Road and Waimea Street there were slips and properties flooded and people were evacuated.
Paritutu Bowling Club rooms and greens flooded.
Along Aubrey-Weymouth Street, houses and sections were flooded and some were evacuated.
Houses on Carrington, Gilbert and Pengarves Street were evacuated after a dam in Pukekura Park burst. A great surge of water flowed through the parks lower levels and adjoining streets.
Industries along the Waiwhakaiho River were flooded.
Inner-city roads were closed and roads were turned into lakes. Katere Road, Calvert Road and Dorset Road was closed. Brougham Street was closed due to sewage.
NPBHS internal plumbing burst.
Water was two metres deep water on the Pukekura Raceway. The run off caused damages to Ridge Lane properties.
The city was cut off from the north and east.
People were evacuated from their homes. 20 families were evacuated.
Sewage popped up through manhole covers and onto some streets and properties.
The extensions to Sutherland Park became a five metre deep lake.
Some areas outside the city were also hit hard by the flood. The lower part of Pukeawa Gardens on Mahoetahi Road, behind New Plyouth Airport, lay beneath a fast-flowing Waiongana River.
Flooding was localised. There was inundation in many low-lying industrial, recreational and some residential areas.
The event had an estimated return period of 50 years.
Two bridges were washed away in rural areas.
A primary school was closed.
No major rivers or streams broke their banks.
Landslide
Landslips threatened houses. There were slips on Shaldon Cresent, Waiwera Place and slips behind houses on Saxton Road.
Heavy Rain
at
New Plymouth Airport
New Plymouth Airport recorded 70 mm (7.0 cm) of rain in two hours (which has a return period of 20 years).
New Plymouth Airport recorded 165 mm (16.5 cm) of rain in six hours (which has a return period of 88 years).
New Plymouth Airport recorded 175 mm (17.5 cm) of rain in 12 hours (which has a return period of 44 years).
New Plymouth Airport recorded 178 mm (17.8 cm) of rain in 24 hours (which has a return period of 18 years).
Flooding
at
Mangawera Stream
Mangawera Stream bridge (20 km north-east of New Plymouth) collapsed.
Heavy Rain
at
Inglewood
Inglewood recorded 155 mm (15.5 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 21st.
Heavy Rain
at
Omata
Omata recorded 135 mm (13.5 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 21st.
Heavy Rain
at
Tarata
Tarata recorded 119 mm (11.9 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 21st.
Heavy Rain
at
Waitara
Waitara recorded 130 mm (13.0 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 21st.
References
- Insurance Councils, The Cost of Weather Loses, Claims history (Updated 2004)
- Major weather events in New Zealand, FLOODS AND HIGH RAINFALL, Floods to 30 Sep 2005
- Meteorological Society of New Zealand (Inc.) Newsletter 61, June 1995.
- NZ Met Service. (2008). Meteorology of Extreme Rainfalls in New Zealand (Mark Pascoe, Ed.).
- The Big Wet: a special Taranaki Newspaper publication recording the 100 year rainstorm in Taranaki, April 21, 1995
- Headline: Natural disaster bill $442m.
- The Press, Source: NZPA, 8 July 1995.
- Torrance, A.M., (1996). APRIL 1995 RAIN STORM New Plymouth.
April 1995 Taranaki Flooding ( 1995-04-21 )
Heavy rain caused severe flooding in New Plymouth. 20 families in New Plymouth were evacuated.
Taranaki
Multi Hazard
at
Taranaki
A frontal band, between the two ridges, extended from central New Zealand to the area just west of Taranaki then into a pre-existing trough of low pressure in the north Tasman Sea. It was the area of low pressure in the North Tasman that was primarily responsible for keeping the front slow moving west of Taranaki. The ridge over northern New Zealand also had a role here. The front remained slow moving west of Taranaki until the evening of the 22nd when it moved to the north of the area.
Flooding
State Highway 3, south of New Plymouth, and 3A (between Inglewood and Waitara) was closed.
Heavy Rain
at
New Plymouth
New Plymouth recorded 134 mm (13.4 cm) of rain in five hours just before 12pm on the 21st (which has a return period of over 150 years).
New Plymouth recorded 151 mm (15.1 cm) of rain in less than six hours. This equalled the 24 hour record for rainfall set in March 1990.
New Plymouth recorded 45 mm (4.5 cm) of rain in one hour.
The annual reccurrance interval for the rainfall was over a 100 year event.
It was one of wettest days in the New Plymouth history. There was a nine hour period of high intensity rainfall. Shortlty after the heavy downpour, the rain eased off but did continue to fall, with some heavy bursts, right through to the 23rd April.
Flooding
The insurance industry payouts for the New Plymouth floods was $3,600,000 in 1995 ($4,959,400 2010 dollars).
Commercial claims totalled $1,500,000 ($2,066,400 2010 dollars).
Household claims totalled $1,200,000 ($1,653,100 2010 dollars).
There was widespread flooding in New Plymouth which caused extensive damage.
Along South Road and Waimea Street there were slips and properties flooded and people were evacuated.
Paritutu Bowling Club rooms and greens flooded.
Along Aubrey-Weymouth Street, houses and sections were flooded and some were evacuated.
Houses on Carrington, Gilbert and Pengarves Street were evacuated after a dam in Pukekura Park burst. A great surge of water flowed through the parks lower levels and adjoining streets.
Industries along the Waiwhakaiho River were flooded.
Inner-city roads were closed and roads were turned into lakes. Katere Road, Calvert Road and Dorset Road was closed. Brougham Street was closed due to sewage.
NPBHS internal plumbing burst.
Water was two metres deep water on the Pukekura Raceway. The run off caused damages to Ridge Lane properties.
The city was cut off from the north and east.
People were evacuated from their homes. 20 families were evacuated.
Sewage popped up through manhole covers and onto some streets and properties.
The extensions to Sutherland Park became a five metre deep lake.
Some areas outside the city were also hit hard by the flood. The lower part of Pukeawa Gardens on Mahoetahi Road, behind New Plyouth Airport, lay beneath a fast-flowing Waiongana River.
Flooding was localised. There was inundation in many low-lying industrial, recreational and some residential areas.
The event had an estimated return period of 50 years.
Two bridges were washed away in rural areas.
A primary school was closed.
No major rivers or streams broke their banks.
Landslide
Landslips threatened houses. There were slips on Shaldon Cresent, Waiwera Place and slips behind houses on Saxton Road.
Heavy Rain
at
New Plymouth Airport
New Plymouth Airport recorded 70 mm (7.0 cm) of rain in two hours (which has a return period of 20 years).
New Plymouth Airport recorded 165 mm (16.5 cm) of rain in six hours (which has a return period of 88 years).
New Plymouth Airport recorded 175 mm (17.5 cm) of rain in 12 hours (which has a return period of 44 years).
New Plymouth Airport recorded 178 mm (17.8 cm) of rain in 24 hours (which has a return period of 18 years).
Flooding
at
Mangawera Stream
Mangawera Stream bridge (20 km north-east of New Plymouth) collapsed.
Heavy Rain
at
Inglewood
Inglewood recorded 155 mm (15.5 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 21st.
Heavy Rain
at
Omata
Omata recorded 135 mm (13.5 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 21st.
Heavy Rain
at
Tarata
Tarata recorded 119 mm (11.9 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 21st.
Heavy Rain
at
Waitara
Waitara recorded 130 mm (13.0 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 21st.
References
- Insurance Councils, The Cost of Weather Loses, Claims history (Updated 2004)
- Major weather events in New Zealand, FLOODS AND HIGH RAINFALL, Floods to 30 Sep 2005
- Meteorological Society of New Zealand (Inc.) Newsletter 61, June 1995.
- NZ Met Service. (2008). Meteorology of Extreme Rainfalls in New Zealand (Mark Pascoe, Ed.).
- The Big Wet: a special Taranaki Newspaper publication recording the 100 year rainstorm in Taranaki, April 21, 1995
- Headline: Natural disaster bill $442m.
- The Press, Source: NZPA, 8 July 1995.
- Torrance, A.M., (1996). APRIL 1995 RAIN STORM New Plymouth.