NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
August 1930 Canterbury Flooding
(
1930-08-05
)
20 years
Serious flooding occurred in Christchurch and Banks Peninsula areas. People were evacuated and roads were blocked.
Canterbury
Heavy Rain
at
Canterbury
Duration: 3 days - There was three days and two nights of continuous rain in and around Christchurch from the 5th to the 7th.
Flooding
All rivers were in moderate flood but didn’t cause much damage.
Selwyn, Waireka and Hawkins rivers were not fordable.
Heavy Rain
at
Akaroa
Akaroa recorded 5.11 in (12.98 cm) of rain.
Flooding
Roads were blocked between the township and Birdling's Flat.
One of the main creeks in the township overflowed, flooding the Recreation Ground and the cricket green.
The road to Akaroa was impassable.
Landslide
The soaked conditions of the country side around Akaroa caused many minor slips on the roads.
Heavy Rain
at
Amberley
There were some fairly heavy lambing losses from the Amberley district as a result of the rain storm.
Multi Hazard
The rain storm was accompanied by very low temperatures and cold blustery wind.
Flooding
In Amberley, the Kowai River was in flood.
Heavy Rain
at
Ashburton
Ashburton recorded 380 points (13.41 cm) of rain.
Flooding
Some roads in the borough and country were flooded.
In some districts towards the coast, nearly 4.5 in (11.43 cm) of rain fell.
A few early early lambs were lost.
In many cases roads and paddocks were covered with water.
Flooding
at
Ashley River
The Ashley River was in high flood and ran from bank to bank. It spread out over the flats below the bridge.
Flooding
at
Bankside
The road near Bankside was flooded for a distance of nine chains (181 m).
Heavy Rain
at
Christchurch
Christchurch recorded 3.30 in (8.38 cm) of rain in two and a half days. It was the heaiviest rainfall since the 15th and 16th of April 1925.
Christchurch recorded 1.27 in (3.23 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Christchurch recorded 2.48 in (6.30 cm) of rain in 48 hours.
Flooding
It was the most extensive flooding of low-lying parts of Christchurch city for many years.
Heathcote River was a turbulant, muddy stream. It overflowed its banks and spread over a wide area. At the foot of the hill leading to Cashmere-Sanatoria it flowed across the road, making it impassable to motor traffic. It scoured the roads along its banks and made many pot-holes.
The flood invaded many residences compelling evacuations.
Woolston, Radley, Beckenham, St. Albans North, Redcliffs and Spreydon districts were all flooded to varying degrees.
Numerous houses in the city were surrounded by water and the flood waters, in many cases, rose above floor levels.
Transport was rendered difficult.
All the streams in the city were running bank high.
Parts of St Albans Park were flooded.
New Brighton streets were slushy and the unpaved roads were inches deep in mud.
There was flooding in the country district.
Roads, paddocks and gardens were rapidly flooded and water was invading houses.
Flooding did considerable damage to private property.
All low-lying parts around Barrington were flooded.
There was a burst water main on Ferry Road. A great many of the side streets were underwater from fence to fence.
In Clarendon and Richmond Rerraces the river was more than bank to bank.
20 residents were removed by drays and boats.
A new bridge under construction suffered considerable damage.
In Aldwins Road, water was up to the doors of the houses. On Wilson's Road, water was a foot deep (0.31 m).
Four new bungalows on Shirley Road were surrounded by water.
There were several acres of rural land under a foot (0.30 m) of water.
Nearly a quarter of a mile of Aldwins Road, in Linwood, was underwater.
About 15 acres (6 ha) of land in block bounded by Canal Reserve, Buckleys Road and the Linwood Cemetery was a sheet of water.
Parts of the Bexley area between the New Brighton bridge and Aranui was underwater.
The Avon flooded causing tramlines to be submerged in places. Several residence and glasshouses were at least one foot (0.31 m) deep in the flood waters.
From 6-18 in (0.15-0.46 m) of water surrounded some of the houses in the Northcote settlement.
Bitumen was scoured from the pavements and tram tracks by the action of the water.
One pumping station on the bank of the Heathcote near Tennyson Street was completely submerged.
Many of residents in the neighbourhood of Radley Bridge, one of the worst flooded areas were removed by Council motor-lorries. Along the Western Terrace there were marooned residents in 25 houses and 11 houses were under a foot (0.31 m) of water.
Maritime / Coastal
Heavy seas were pounding on the beaches of the seaside suburbs.
Flooding
at
Little River
The overflow from Lake Forsyth and the running water from the hills invaded township to a depth of 3 ft (0.91 m).
Five families (20 people) had to abandon their homes.
Railway line and the road to Little River was blocked.
Heavy Rain
at
Lyttelton
The rainfall at Lyttleton over three days was the heaviest in 20 years.
Landslide
On the Lyttleton side of the Main Highway, between Sumner and Lyttleton, several small slips occurred.
Heavy Rain
at
Methven
Methven recorded 2.10 in (5.33 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Heavy Rain
at
Oxford
Oxford recorded 202 points (7.13 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Heavy Rain
at
Rangiora
Rangiora recorded 4 in (10.16 cm) of rain in 24 hours. Not since 1923 has there been such a heavy fall of rain at Rangiora.
Flooding
Flaxton Road on the way to Rangiora was covered with water.
Much of the flooding was caused by the backing up of the Cam River. The rain, wind and tide all having some effect.
Several of the small streams near Southbrook and Cam were unable to carry off the surface water and overflowed.
In and around Flaxton, on the low lands, there was a great deal of water and the road was underwater.
Flooding
at
Redcliffs
Sumner and Redcliffs residents suffered, arising from the backing up of flood waters.
In the low-lying back portion of Sumner, there were many extensive patches of surface water.
Bay View Road and Pratt Street were closed at their junction with the main road by extensive sheets of water.
Houses were surrounded.
300 tomato plants were flooded and the plants were ruined.
Flooding
at
Rolleston
The road was flooded near Rolleston.
Flooding
at
Selwyn River
The Selwyn River was unfordable near Hororata.
References
- Cowie, C.A.: Attwood, A.K. (1957) Floods in New Zealand 1920-53, The Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand, p.239.
- Headline: Rain General
- The Press, 6 August 1930.
- Headline: At Lyttleton
- The Press, 7 August 1930.
- Headline: At Sumner, Discomfort and Damage
- The Press, 7 August 1930.
- Headline: City Floods, Houses Abandoned, Rescue of Residents
- The Press, 7 August 1930.
- Headline: In the Country
- The Press, 7 August 1930.
- Headline: Transport, No Serious Interruption, Little River Isolated
- The Press, 7 August 1930.
August 1930 Canterbury Flooding
(
1930-08-05
)
20 years
Serious flooding occurred in Christchurch and Banks Peninsula areas. People were evacuated and roads were blocked.
Canterbury
Heavy Rain
at
Canterbury
Duration: 3 days - There was three days and two nights of continuous rain in and around Christchurch from the 5th to the 7th.
Flooding
All rivers were in moderate flood but didn’t cause much damage.
Selwyn, Waireka and Hawkins rivers were not fordable.
Heavy Rain
at
Akaroa
Akaroa recorded 5.11 in (12.98 cm) of rain.
Flooding
Roads were blocked between the township and Birdling's Flat.
One of the main creeks in the township overflowed, flooding the Recreation Ground and the cricket green.
The road to Akaroa was impassable.
Landslide
The soaked conditions of the country side around Akaroa caused many minor slips on the roads.
Heavy Rain
at
Amberley
There were some fairly heavy lambing losses from the Amberley district as a result of the rain storm.
Multi Hazard
The rain storm was accompanied by very low temperatures and cold blustery wind.
Flooding
In Amberley, the Kowai River was in flood.
Heavy Rain
at
Ashburton
Ashburton recorded 380 points (13.41 cm) of rain.
Flooding
Some roads in the borough and country were flooded.
In some districts towards the coast, nearly 4.5 in (11.43 cm) of rain fell.
A few early early lambs were lost.
In many cases roads and paddocks were covered with water.
Flooding
at
Ashley River
The Ashley River was in high flood and ran from bank to bank. It spread out over the flats below the bridge.
Flooding
at
Bankside
The road near Bankside was flooded for a distance of nine chains (181 m).
Heavy Rain
at
Christchurch
Christchurch recorded 3.30 in (8.38 cm) of rain in two and a half days. It was the heaiviest rainfall since the 15th and 16th of April 1925.
Christchurch recorded 1.27 in (3.23 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Christchurch recorded 2.48 in (6.30 cm) of rain in 48 hours.
Flooding
It was the most extensive flooding of low-lying parts of Christchurch city for many years.
Heathcote River was a turbulant, muddy stream. It overflowed its banks and spread over a wide area. At the foot of the hill leading to Cashmere-Sanatoria it flowed across the road, making it impassable to motor traffic. It scoured the roads along its banks and made many pot-holes.
The flood invaded many residences compelling evacuations.
Woolston, Radley, Beckenham, St. Albans North, Redcliffs and Spreydon districts were all flooded to varying degrees.
Numerous houses in the city were surrounded by water and the flood waters, in many cases, rose above floor levels.
Transport was rendered difficult.
All the streams in the city were running bank high.
Parts of St Albans Park were flooded.
New Brighton streets were slushy and the unpaved roads were inches deep in mud.
There was flooding in the country district.
Roads, paddocks and gardens were rapidly flooded and water was invading houses.
Flooding did considerable damage to private property.
All low-lying parts around Barrington were flooded.
There was a burst water main on Ferry Road. A great many of the side streets were underwater from fence to fence.
In Clarendon and Richmond Rerraces the river was more than bank to bank.
20 residents were removed by drays and boats.
A new bridge under construction suffered considerable damage.
In Aldwins Road, water was up to the doors of the houses. On Wilson's Road, water was a foot deep (0.31 m).
Four new bungalows on Shirley Road were surrounded by water.
There were several acres of rural land under a foot (0.30 m) of water.
Nearly a quarter of a mile of Aldwins Road, in Linwood, was underwater.
About 15 acres (6 ha) of land in block bounded by Canal Reserve, Buckleys Road and the Linwood Cemetery was a sheet of water.
Parts of the Bexley area between the New Brighton bridge and Aranui was underwater.
The Avon flooded causing tramlines to be submerged in places. Several residence and glasshouses were at least one foot (0.31 m) deep in the flood waters.
From 6-18 in (0.15-0.46 m) of water surrounded some of the houses in the Northcote settlement.
Bitumen was scoured from the pavements and tram tracks by the action of the water.
One pumping station on the bank of the Heathcote near Tennyson Street was completely submerged.
Many of residents in the neighbourhood of Radley Bridge, one of the worst flooded areas were removed by Council motor-lorries. Along the Western Terrace there were marooned residents in 25 houses and 11 houses were under a foot (0.31 m) of water.
Maritime / Coastal
Heavy seas were pounding on the beaches of the seaside suburbs.
Flooding
at
Little River
The overflow from Lake Forsyth and the running water from the hills invaded township to a depth of 3 ft (0.91 m).
Five families (20 people) had to abandon their homes.
Railway line and the road to Little River was blocked.
Heavy Rain
at
Lyttelton
The rainfall at Lyttleton over three days was the heaviest in 20 years.
Landslide
On the Lyttleton side of the Main Highway, between Sumner and Lyttleton, several small slips occurred.
Heavy Rain
at
Methven
Methven recorded 2.10 in (5.33 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Heavy Rain
at
Oxford
Oxford recorded 202 points (7.13 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Heavy Rain
at
Rangiora
Rangiora recorded 4 in (10.16 cm) of rain in 24 hours. Not since 1923 has there been such a heavy fall of rain at Rangiora.
Flooding
Flaxton Road on the way to Rangiora was covered with water.
Much of the flooding was caused by the backing up of the Cam River. The rain, wind and tide all having some effect.
Several of the small streams near Southbrook and Cam were unable to carry off the surface water and overflowed.
In and around Flaxton, on the low lands, there was a great deal of water and the road was underwater.
Flooding
at
Redcliffs
Sumner and Redcliffs residents suffered, arising from the backing up of flood waters.
In the low-lying back portion of Sumner, there were many extensive patches of surface water.
Bay View Road and Pratt Street were closed at their junction with the main road by extensive sheets of water.
Houses were surrounded.
300 tomato plants were flooded and the plants were ruined.
Flooding
at
Rolleston
The road was flooded near Rolleston.
Flooding
at
Selwyn River
The Selwyn River was unfordable near Hororata.
References
- Cowie, C.A.: Attwood, A.K. (1957) Floods in New Zealand 1920-53, The Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand, p.239.
- Headline: Rain General
- The Press, 6 August 1930.
- Headline: At Lyttleton
- The Press, 7 August 1930.
- Headline: At Sumner, Discomfort and Damage
- The Press, 7 August 1930.
- Headline: City Floods, Houses Abandoned, Rescue of Residents
- The Press, 7 August 1930.
- Headline: In the Country
- The Press, 7 August 1930.
- Headline: Transport, No Serious Interruption, Little River Isolated
- The Press, 7 August 1930.