NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
April 2017 New Zealand Ex Cyclone Debbie ( 2017-04-03 )
A storm, including the remnants of Cyclone Debbie, brought heavy rain, flooding and land slips to many areas over the period 3-6 April.
New Zealand
Multi Hazard
at
New Zealand
Duration: 4 days - From the 3rd to the 6th of April.
Insurance claims totalled $91.46 million.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 9:52am 03-Apr-2017. HEAVY RAIN FOR TARANAKI WANGANUI AND THE TARARUA RANGE A deepening low pressure system over the Tasman Sea approaches northern New Zealand on Tuesday, then crosses the country during Wednesday and Thursday, followed by a ridge of high pressure on Friday. This deep low should bring heavy rain to many parts of the country, especially from central North Island to the top of the South Island from Tuesday to Thursday, with strong winds for a time.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 8:33pm 03-Apr-2017. HEAVY RAIN FOR TARANAKI, WHANGANUI, HAWKES BAY, WAIRARAPA AND THE TARARUA RANGE A deep low over the Tasman Sea is moving southeast towards the country. The low directs a moist northerly flow onto the North Island. A slow moving trough is expected to lie over the central North Island. Heavy rain is likely, especially in the vicinity of the trough. Strong southeasterlies may affect some areas south of the trough. Taranaki, the Whanganui District, Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa and the Tararua Ranges are expected to recieve the largest rain accumulations. Totals could exceed 200mm in some areas.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 9:46am 04-Apr-2017. HEAVY RAIN FOR MANY PARTS OF THE NORTH ISLAND AND STRONG WINDS ACROSS CENTRAL NEW ZEALAND A deepening low over the Tasman Sea is moving southeast towards the country. The low directs a moist northerly flow onto the North Island and a slow moving trough is expected to lie over the central North Island. The low is forecast to cross central New Zealand early Thursday, and both the low and trough move away to the east and southeast. Heavy rain is already falling in many places, especially in the vicinity of the trough, and is expected to continue until the passage of the low and trough early Thursday morning.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 11:44am 04-Apr-2017. HEAVY RAIN FOR MANY PARTS OF THE NORTH ISLAND AND THE UPPER SOUTH ISLAND, AND STRONG WINDS ACROSS CENTRAL NEW ZEALAND This is an update to the Warning to include Taumarunui, Taupo, Taihape and the Kaikoura Coast for heavy rain.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 10:01am 05-Apr-2017. HEAVY RAIN FOR MANY PARTS OF THE NORTH ISLAND AND THE UPPER SOUTH ISLAND, AND STRONG WINDS ACROSS CENTRAL NEW ZEALAND A deepening low over the Tasman Sea is forecast to cross central New Zealand overnight Wednesday and early Thursday morning and move away to the southeast later Thursday. Heavy rain has already fallen in many places and is expected to continue until the passage of the low early Thursday morning. The heaviest rain is expected from Northland to Whanganui, including Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty, the Central North Island High Country, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay,Wairarapa and the Kaikoura Coast. There is also potential for thunderstorms and downpours with hourly rainfall rates of 25 to 45mm.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 8:25pm 05-Apr-2017. HEAVY RAIN FOR PARTS OF THE NORTH ISLAND EASING FROM THE WEST OVERNIGHT WEDNESDAY, BUT CONTINUING ABOUT THE KAIKOURA COAST AND BANKS PENINSULA WITH SOUTHWEST GALES.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 8:52pm 06-Apr-2017. RAIN AND WIND ABOUT BANKS PENINSULA AND KAIKOURA COAST CONTINUES TO EASE, WARNINGS LIFTED.
Bay of Plenty
Flooding
at
Bay of Plenty
A state of emergency was declared in Whakatane District. The Mayor of Whakatane District said the region was experiencing a one-in-500-year event. The Whakatane River reached its highest-ever level of 8.3m
The flood was declared a medium-scale adverse event, meaning that farmers could get help from Task Force Green teams and the Bay of Plenty Rural Support Trust, as well as receiving tax
assistance.
Many small and remote Bay of Plenty communities, going up into the Ureweras, were isolated because of flooding and slips. Ruatahuna, Minginui and Te Whaiti were cut off by slips over the road.
Waimana, Ruatoki and Taneatua were cut off after the river crossed the
road into town..
Residents of Whakatane and Ohope were urged to conserve water.
Flooding
at
Edgecumbe
A stopbank on the Rangitāiki River burst, forcing the evacuation of almost the entire town (1600 residents) of Edgecumbe. Floodwaters reached 1.5m in much of the town. About 10 households in Thornton, further down the Rangitāiki River from Edgecumbe, were also evacuated as a precaution. About 70 percent of homes in Edgecumbe were believed to have flood damage and about 10 houses were thought to be beyond repair.
Manawatu-Wanganui
Flooding
at
Whanganui
Whanganui council declared a local state of emergency on April 4. The Whanganui mayor said residents in "about 200, maybe 250" homes, mainly in Whanganui East and Putiki, should leave their homes by 10am the next day.
All schools in the Whanganui district were closed on April 5.
Flooding
at
Marton
Rangitikei council declared a local state of emergency on April 4, and 50 people were evacuated from Marton.
All schools in Rangitikei district were closed on April 5.
Flooding
at
Pipiriki
The Whanganui River was expected to peak at 17.7m above normal at Pipiriki.
Landslide
at
Manawatu-Wanganui
State Highway 4 was closed by slips between Raetihi and Whanganui.
Motorists were warned to avoid the Manawatu Gorge, as it was down to one lane due to rockfalls. A 30km/h
temporary speed restriction was in place where there have been slips.
Auckland
Multi Hazard
at
Auckland
About 20 roads closed around Auckland because of flooding.
All gulf harbour ferry sailings were replaced by buses.
Trains were suspended between Pukekohe and Papakura due to landslips.
Landslide
at
Kohimarama
A cliff collapsed on to an apartment block at Kohimarama, sending a 10m wide mudslide which smashed windows and burst through doors. Fifteen people were evacuated from the apartment block, and another six people were evacuated from the neighbouring properties.
Hawke's Bay
Landslide
at
Te Pohue
A truck collided with a slip along the Napier-Taupo Road near the intersection of Palmer Rd in Te Pohue. The slip fully blocked the north bound lane and there was a lot of debris on the road.
Canterbury
Multi Hazard
at
Kaikoura
A mudslide caused by heavy rain blocked State Highway 1, south of Kaikoura. More than 100 millimetres of rain fell in the Kaikoura district over the 36 hours to 5 April.
Flooding
at
Christchurch
Overflowing water from the Heathcote River closed a road in Christchurch.
Sports fields across Christchurch were closed for the weekend.
References
- Meteorological Society of New Zealand (Inc.), Newsletter 149, Winter 2017
- Insurance Council of New Zealand (http://www.icnz.org.nz/natural-disaster/historical-events)
- Headline: Debbie deluge: Auckland region flooded, worse yet to come for central North Island
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 4 April 2017.
- Headline: Truck crashes into slip on Napier-Taupo Rd
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 5 April 2017.
- Headline: Floods Live: Rising rivers, closed roads and a lucky escape.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 5 April 2017.
- Headline: Tropical torrent: what you need to know.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 5 April 2017.
- Headline: Auckland cliff collapse: Mud ‘burst through front door’.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 5 April 2017.
- Headline: Live: Edgecumbe township evacuated as flood bank breached.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 5 April 2017.
- Headline: Kaikoura to be cut off as roads battered by rain.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 5 April 2017.
- Headline: Canterbury bears brunt of bad weather, with heavy rain, gales and snow.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 6 April 2017.
- Headline: Edgecumbe flooding: what you need to know.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 7 April 2017.
- Headline: ‘Wall of water’: A night in exile for Edgecumbe.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 7 April 2017.
- Headline: Govt announces help for flood-hit farmers.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 11 April 2017.
- Headline: About 10 Edgecumbe homes ‘beyond repair’.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 11 April 2017.
April 2017 New Zealand Ex Cyclone Debbie ( 2017-04-03 )
A storm, including the remnants of Cyclone Debbie, brought heavy rain, flooding and land slips to many areas over the period 3-6 April.
New Zealand
Multi Hazard
at
New Zealand
Duration: 4 days - From the 3rd to the 6th of April.
Insurance claims totalled $91.46 million.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 9:52am 03-Apr-2017. HEAVY RAIN FOR TARANAKI WANGANUI AND THE TARARUA RANGE A deepening low pressure system over the Tasman Sea approaches northern New Zealand on Tuesday, then crosses the country during Wednesday and Thursday, followed by a ridge of high pressure on Friday. This deep low should bring heavy rain to many parts of the country, especially from central North Island to the top of the South Island from Tuesday to Thursday, with strong winds for a time.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 8:33pm 03-Apr-2017. HEAVY RAIN FOR TARANAKI, WHANGANUI, HAWKES BAY, WAIRARAPA AND THE TARARUA RANGE A deep low over the Tasman Sea is moving southeast towards the country. The low directs a moist northerly flow onto the North Island. A slow moving trough is expected to lie over the central North Island. Heavy rain is likely, especially in the vicinity of the trough. Strong southeasterlies may affect some areas south of the trough. Taranaki, the Whanganui District, Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa and the Tararua Ranges are expected to recieve the largest rain accumulations. Totals could exceed 200mm in some areas.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 9:46am 04-Apr-2017. HEAVY RAIN FOR MANY PARTS OF THE NORTH ISLAND AND STRONG WINDS ACROSS CENTRAL NEW ZEALAND A deepening low over the Tasman Sea is moving southeast towards the country. The low directs a moist northerly flow onto the North Island and a slow moving trough is expected to lie over the central North Island. The low is forecast to cross central New Zealand early Thursday, and both the low and trough move away to the east and southeast. Heavy rain is already falling in many places, especially in the vicinity of the trough, and is expected to continue until the passage of the low and trough early Thursday morning.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 11:44am 04-Apr-2017. HEAVY RAIN FOR MANY PARTS OF THE NORTH ISLAND AND THE UPPER SOUTH ISLAND, AND STRONG WINDS ACROSS CENTRAL NEW ZEALAND This is an update to the Warning to include Taumarunui, Taupo, Taihape and the Kaikoura Coast for heavy rain.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 10:01am 05-Apr-2017. HEAVY RAIN FOR MANY PARTS OF THE NORTH ISLAND AND THE UPPER SOUTH ISLAND, AND STRONG WINDS ACROSS CENTRAL NEW ZEALAND A deepening low over the Tasman Sea is forecast to cross central New Zealand overnight Wednesday and early Thursday morning and move away to the southeast later Thursday. Heavy rain has already fallen in many places and is expected to continue until the passage of the low early Thursday morning. The heaviest rain is expected from Northland to Whanganui, including Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty, the Central North Island High Country, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay,Wairarapa and the Kaikoura Coast. There is also potential for thunderstorms and downpours with hourly rainfall rates of 25 to 45mm.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 8:25pm 05-Apr-2017. HEAVY RAIN FOR PARTS OF THE NORTH ISLAND EASING FROM THE WEST OVERNIGHT WEDNESDAY, BUT CONTINUING ABOUT THE KAIKOURA COAST AND BANKS PENINSULA WITH SOUTHWEST GALES.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 8:52pm 06-Apr-2017. RAIN AND WIND ABOUT BANKS PENINSULA AND KAIKOURA COAST CONTINUES TO EASE, WARNINGS LIFTED.
Bay of Plenty
Flooding
at
Bay of Plenty
A state of emergency was declared in Whakatane District. The Mayor of Whakatane District said the region was experiencing a one-in-500-year event. The Whakatane River reached its highest-ever level of 8.3m
The flood was declared a medium-scale adverse event, meaning that farmers could get help from Task Force Green teams and the Bay of Plenty Rural Support Trust, as well as receiving tax
assistance.
Many small and remote Bay of Plenty communities, going up into the Ureweras, were isolated because of flooding and slips. Ruatahuna, Minginui and Te Whaiti were cut off by slips over the road.
Waimana, Ruatoki and Taneatua were cut off after the river crossed the
road into town..
Residents of Whakatane and Ohope were urged to conserve water.
Flooding
at
Edgecumbe
A stopbank on the Rangitāiki River burst, forcing the evacuation of almost the entire town (1600 residents) of Edgecumbe. Floodwaters reached 1.5m in much of the town. About 10 households in Thornton, further down the Rangitāiki River from Edgecumbe, were also evacuated as a precaution. About 70 percent of homes in Edgecumbe were believed to have flood damage and about 10 houses were thought to be beyond repair.
Manawatu-Wanganui
Flooding
at
Whanganui
Whanganui council declared a local state of emergency on April 4. The Whanganui mayor said residents in "about 200, maybe 250" homes, mainly in Whanganui East and Putiki, should leave their homes by 10am the next day.
All schools in the Whanganui district were closed on April 5.
Flooding
at
Marton
Rangitikei council declared a local state of emergency on April 4, and 50 people were evacuated from Marton.
All schools in Rangitikei district were closed on April 5.
Flooding
at
Pipiriki
The Whanganui River was expected to peak at 17.7m above normal at Pipiriki.
Landslide
at
Manawatu-Wanganui
State Highway 4 was closed by slips between Raetihi and Whanganui.
Motorists were warned to avoid the Manawatu Gorge, as it was down to one lane due to rockfalls. A 30km/h
temporary speed restriction was in place where there have been slips.
Auckland
Multi Hazard
at
Auckland
About 20 roads closed around Auckland because of flooding.
All gulf harbour ferry sailings were replaced by buses.
Trains were suspended between Pukekohe and Papakura due to landslips.
Landslide
at
Kohimarama
A cliff collapsed on to an apartment block at Kohimarama, sending a 10m wide mudslide which smashed windows and burst through doors. Fifteen people were evacuated from the apartment block, and another six people were evacuated from the neighbouring properties.
Hawke's Bay
Landslide
at
Te Pohue
A truck collided with a slip along the Napier-Taupo Road near the intersection of Palmer Rd in Te Pohue. The slip fully blocked the north bound lane and there was a lot of debris on the road.
Canterbury
Multi Hazard
at
Kaikoura
A mudslide caused by heavy rain blocked State Highway 1, south of Kaikoura. More than 100 millimetres of rain fell in the Kaikoura district over the 36 hours to 5 April.
Flooding
at
Christchurch
Overflowing water from the Heathcote River closed a road in Christchurch.
Sports fields across Christchurch were closed for the weekend.
References
- Meteorological Society of New Zealand (Inc.), Newsletter 149, Winter 2017
- Insurance Council of New Zealand (http://www.icnz.org.nz/natural-disaster/historical-events)
- Headline: Debbie deluge: Auckland region flooded, worse yet to come for central North Island
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 4 April 2017.
- Headline: Truck crashes into slip on Napier-Taupo Rd
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 5 April 2017.
- Headline: Floods Live: Rising rivers, closed roads and a lucky escape.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 5 April 2017.
- Headline: Tropical torrent: what you need to know.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 5 April 2017.
- Headline: Auckland cliff collapse: Mud ‘burst through front door’.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 5 April 2017.
- Headline: Live: Edgecumbe township evacuated as flood bank breached.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 5 April 2017.
- Headline: Kaikoura to be cut off as roads battered by rain.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 5 April 2017.
- Headline: Canterbury bears brunt of bad weather, with heavy rain, gales and snow.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 6 April 2017.
- Headline: Edgecumbe flooding: what you need to know.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 7 April 2017.
- Headline: ‘Wall of water’: A night in exile for Edgecumbe.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 7 April 2017.
- Headline: Govt announces help for flood-hit farmers.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 11 April 2017.
- Headline: About 10 Edgecumbe homes ‘beyond repair’.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 11 April 2017.