NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
April 2000 Northland and Auckland Thunderstorms ( 2000-04-21 )
Thunderstorms brought lightning and extreme rainfall to some places in Northland and Auckland. A tornado damaged properties in Pukenui, Northland. Two separate traffic accidents saw two people killed and 13 injured.
North Island
Multi Hazard
at
North Island
Duration: 1 day -
A low dragged moist subtropical air from the north over Northland and Auckland, with a slow-moving trough. The high humidities and instability resulted in thunderstorm activity along this trough, with extreme convective rainfall. Low-level convergence was present, along with weak CVA. The depression headed south down the island.
Thunder, lightning and torrential rain lashed the upper North Island.
A virtual blackout stopped rescue helicopters flying to two crashes north of Auckland (one near Dargaville, one near Wellsford) in which 17 people were injured.
Northland
Multi Hazard
at
Northland
Torrential rain and thunderstorms caused flooding and disruption on the 21st.
Multi Hazard
at
Dargaville
A woman was killed when her car left the road and hit a power pole 3km north of Dargaville at 9:30pm on the 21st.
The four other occupants of the car were taken to hospital with minor injuries.
Heavy Rain
at
Matauri Bay
Matauri Bay recorded 124 mm (12.4 cm) of rain in the hour to 2pm on the 21st (Return Period well over 150 years).
High Wind / Gust
At Matauri Bay, winds were estimated to be constantly in excess of 70-80 km/hr.
Tornado
at
Pukenui
A tornado struck Pukenui after forming from a waterspout.
The tornado caused considerable damage to properties. Roofs were lifted and damage was done to outdoor furniture, clotheslines, garages and french doors.
Heavy Rain
at
Whangarei
Whangarei recorded 44 mm (4.4 cm) of rain in one hour on the 21st.
Auckland
Multi Hazard
at
Auckland
Storms hit Auckland at around 5pm on the 21st, bringing heavy rain, thunder and lightning.
Holiday traffic ground to a halt on State Highway 1 north and south of Auckland while crashes were cleared.
Heavy Rain
at
Manukau Entrance
Manukau Heads recorded 93.9 mm (9.4 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 21st.
Heavy Rain
at
Warkworth
Near Warkworth 75 mm (7.5 cm) of rain was recorded in 45 minutes on the 21st (Return Period more than 150 years).
Warkworth recorded 91.5 mm (9.2 cm) of rain in one hour (unofficial).
Multi Hazard
at
Wellsford
One person was killed when a van and car collided on State Highway 1 near Wellsford at 1:30pm on the 21st.
Nine people were injured in the same crash. One was critically injured and the eight others, including several children, were taken to hospital.
References
- Meteorological Society of New Zealand (Inc.) Newsletter 81, June 2000.
- www.metservice, notable weather events.govt.nz.
- Headline: Road carnage in the gloom.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 22 April 2000.
- New Zealand Meteorological Service. (2008). Meteorology of Extreme Rainfalls in New Zealand (Mark Pascoe, Ed.).
April 2000 Northland and Auckland Thunderstorms ( 2000-04-21 )
Thunderstorms brought lightning and extreme rainfall to some places in Northland and Auckland. A tornado damaged properties in Pukenui, Northland. Two separate traffic accidents saw two people killed and 13 injured.
North Island
Multi Hazard
at
North Island
Duration: 1 day -
A low dragged moist subtropical air from the north over Northland and Auckland, with a slow-moving trough. The high humidities and instability resulted in thunderstorm activity along this trough, with extreme convective rainfall. Low-level convergence was present, along with weak CVA. The depression headed south down the island.
Thunder, lightning and torrential rain lashed the upper North Island.
A virtual blackout stopped rescue helicopters flying to two crashes north of Auckland (one near Dargaville, one near Wellsford) in which 17 people were injured.
Northland
Multi Hazard
at
Northland
Torrential rain and thunderstorms caused flooding and disruption on the 21st.
Multi Hazard
at
Dargaville
A woman was killed when her car left the road and hit a power pole 3km north of Dargaville at 9:30pm on the 21st.
The four other occupants of the car were taken to hospital with minor injuries.
Heavy Rain
at
Matauri Bay
Matauri Bay recorded 124 mm (12.4 cm) of rain in the hour to 2pm on the 21st (Return Period well over 150 years).
High Wind / Gust
At Matauri Bay, winds were estimated to be constantly in excess of 70-80 km/hr.
Tornado
at
Pukenui
A tornado struck Pukenui after forming from a waterspout.
The tornado caused considerable damage to properties. Roofs were lifted and damage was done to outdoor furniture, clotheslines, garages and french doors.
Heavy Rain
at
Whangarei
Whangarei recorded 44 mm (4.4 cm) of rain in one hour on the 21st.
Auckland
Multi Hazard
at
Auckland
Storms hit Auckland at around 5pm on the 21st, bringing heavy rain, thunder and lightning.
Holiday traffic ground to a halt on State Highway 1 north and south of Auckland while crashes were cleared.
Heavy Rain
at
Manukau Entrance
Manukau Heads recorded 93.9 mm (9.4 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 21st.
Heavy Rain
at
Warkworth
Near Warkworth 75 mm (7.5 cm) of rain was recorded in 45 minutes on the 21st (Return Period more than 150 years).
Warkworth recorded 91.5 mm (9.2 cm) of rain in one hour (unofficial).
Multi Hazard
at
Wellsford
One person was killed when a van and car collided on State Highway 1 near Wellsford at 1:30pm on the 21st.
Nine people were injured in the same crash. One was critically injured and the eight others, including several children, were taken to hospital.
References
- Meteorological Society of New Zealand (Inc.) Newsletter 81, June 2000.
- www.metservice, notable weather events.govt.nz.
- Headline: Road carnage in the gloom.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 22 April 2000.
- New Zealand Meteorological Service. (2008). Meteorology of Extreme Rainfalls in New Zealand (Mark Pascoe, Ed.).