NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
August 1970 Upper South Island Flooding
(
1970-08-28
)
2-100 years
Heavy rain, flooding, slips and high winds occurred in parts of the upper South Island. Roads and properties were affected. Flooding was severe in the Nelson area, and two women were killed, one by a flooded stream and one by a landslide.
South Island
Multi Hazard
at
South Island
Duration: 4 days - From the 28th to the 31st of August.
A north-westerly airstream was jammed into a narrow channel between an anticyclone north-east of the country and a deep depression far to its south-west. A frontal band parked itself over the Nelson area.
Marlborough
High Wind / Gust
at
Marlborough
Marlborough experienced a gusty storm with north-west winds on the 28th.
Winds gusted to 57 mph (92 km/hr).
Winds averaged 30 mph (48 km/hr).
Heavy Rain
at
Blenheim
Some heavy showers fell in Blenheim.
Blenheim recorded 22 points (0.6 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 28th.
Blenheim recorded 54 points (1.4 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 27th.
Multi Hazard
One Blenheim to Wellington flight was cancelled on the 28th.
Heavy Rain
at
Picton
Picton recorded 1.27 in (3.2 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 28th.
Picton recorded 1.50 in (3.8 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 27th.
Tasman-Nelson
Landslide
at
Tasman-Nelson
Slips occurred.
Flooding
Stock losses among new born calves and lambs were expected to be high.
Heavy Rain
at
Bainham
Bainham recorded 4.94 in (12.5 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 31st.
Multi Hazard
at
Golden Bay
Strong north-easterly winds and rain caused considerable flooding in the Golden Bay district on the 31st.
Flooding
Civil defence was placed on standby for Golden Bay when the Takaka River threatened the Takaka township and adjacent areas.
Washouts on several roads had to be repaired to allow traffic movement.
Flooding
at
Kotinga
Three houses were evacuated at Kotinga.
Flooding
at
Lyell
The Buller River at Woolfs had a level of 6.279 m at 3pm on the 31st (Return Period approximately 2-5 years).
Multi Hazard
at
Nelson City
Rain and turbulence disrupted flights at Nelson Airport at times on the 28th. Six Wellington to Nelson flights were diverted to Blenheim.
The unofficial estimate of damage was approaching $500,000 ($6,700,000 2008 dollars).
Heavy Rain
A long spell of wet weather culminated in two days of incessant rain.
Nelson City recorded 6.46 in (16.4 cm) of rain in 36.5 hours from 1.30am on the 29th to 12pm on the 31st.
Nelson Airport recorded 5.41 in (13.7 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 30th (Return Period 50 years).
Nelson Airport recorded 4.03 in (10.2 cm) of rain in the six hours from 6pm to 12am on the 29th (Return Period 100 years).
Nelson Airport recorded 50 points (1.3 cm) of rain in one hour from 6pm to 7pm on the 29th.
Nelson Airport recorded 55 points (1.4 cm) of rain in one hour from 7pm to 8pm on the 29th.
Nelson Airport recorded 95 points (2.4 cm) of rain in one hour from 8pm to 9pm on the 29th.
Nelson Airport recorded 67 points (1.7 cm) of rain in one hour from 9pm to 10pm on the 29th.
Nelson Airport recorded 67 points (1.7 cm) of rain in one hour from 10pm to 11pm on the 29th.
Nelson Airport recorded 69 points (1.8 cm) of rain in one hour from 11pm to 12am on the 29th.
Flooding
The torrential rain resulted in swollen streams and rivers. All streams flowing through Nelson City overflowed.
Brook Stream increased its usual flow by over 100 times, and took off in new directions.
Homes were evacuated in lower Brook Street, Tasman Street, and Seymour Avenue.
Streets on both sides of Brook Stream were the worst affected, especially the northern side of Brook Street.
A Civil Defence Emergency was declared for Nelson at 1:20am on 30th August and was terminated on 1st September.
Mud and water reached window sill levels in places.
The flood was described by householders as the worst in 20 years.
Over 1000 telephone subscribers in Nelson city lost service when cables and poles were damaged in torrential rain.
Several areas were without sewerage, water, electricity and telephones. Milk tankers were used to supply fresh water.
Bridges were extensively damaged and many foot bridges were swept away. Not one bridge across Brook Stream remained undamaged.
A 67-year-old woman was carried to her death in the raging Brook Stream.
Property and servicing pipes were extensively damaged. Many homes were left with layer of silt.
A butchers shop was demolished after its foundations were eroded.
The scale of the disaster was moderate.
Two glasshouses were inundated.
A season's crop of cuttings was left flattened in silt, and would have produced $12,000 ($160,000 2008 dollars) in the year.
Water demolished 20 yards (18 m) of retaining wall and drove straight through a house.
Landslide
An 88-year-old woman died after being buried in her bed by a slip.
Heavy Rain
at
Roding River
Roding recorded 233 mm (23.3 cm) of ran in 48 hours (Return Period 65 years).
Heavy Rain
at
Takaka
Takaka recorded 4.72 in (12.0 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 31st.
Flooding
One house on Wadsworth Street was evacuated.
Flooding
at
Takaka River
The Takaka River overflowed its banks and blocked State Highway 60 at Uruwhenua, Bridgers Hollow south of the Takaka township, and at Waitapu.
The river posed a serious danger to residential areas.
Heavy Rain
at
Uruwhenua
Ururwhenua recorded 6.00 in (15.2 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 31st.
West Coast
Heavy Rain
at
West Coast
From the 25th to the 31st, areas in the Grey Catchment recorded up to 15.2cm of rain
Flooding
The Buller and Grey Rivers were in flood on the 29th.
Low-lying areas in the Buller district were under water.
Multi Hazard
Road and rail communication was cut between the Buller district and the outside world. The upper and lower Buller Gorge highways (State Highway 6) were cut in several places by slips, washouts and floods.
The coastal highway between Westport and Greymouth (State Highway 6) was cut in two places by slips and flooding.
Flooding
at
Greymouth
The Grey River reached its highest level since 1936
At mid-day on the 31st water was over 0.3m deep in some parts of the town
In Herbert Street water was up to a metre deep
Grey River peaked at 1.19pm on the 31st and was 5.4m above normal at the Dobson's gauge and discharged 4825 cumecs
Flooding
at
Inangahua Landing
The Inangahua River at the Landing had a level of 5.888 m at 9:30am on the 31st (Return Period approximately 5-10 years).
Multi Hazard
at
Karamea
Karamea was isolated.
Flooding
at
Te Kuha
The Buller River at Te Kuha reached a peak level of 12.189 m on the 31st.
The Buller River at Te Kuha had a peak flow of 8498 cumecs on the 31st.
The Buller River at Te Kuha had a level of 11.888 m at 3pm on the 31st (Return Period approximately 30 years, or a 3% Annual Exceedance Probability).
Flooding
at
Westport
The highway between Westport and Cape Foulwind and Westport Airport (State Highway 67A) was cut by flood waters.
Low-lying areas around Westport were under water.
References
- Benn, J.L. (n.d.) Major Flood Events in Greymouth, New Zealand: 1862-1988. West Coast Regional Council
- Headline: Civil Defence Declarations Since 1 January 1963.
- Declared Civil Defence Emergencies.
- Major weather events in New Zealand, Floods and High Rainfall, Floods to 31st July 2006.
- Headline: Gusty weathr did little damage.
- The Marlborough Express, 29 August 1970.
- The Nelson Evening Mail, 31 August 1970. Headline Brook Stream on rampage.
- Headline: Buller roads cut by heavy floods.
- The Nelson Evening Mail, 31 August 1970.
- Headline: Heavy flooding in Golden Bay.
- The Nelson Evening Mail, 31 August 1970.
- Headline: Nelson reels under rampaging floods, two die: Homeowners fight mud, debris.
- The Nelson Evening Mail, 31 August 1970.
- Headline: Persistent rain.
- The Nelson Evening Mail, 31 August 1970.
- Headline: Raging flood's effects in lower Brook St.
- The Nelson Evening Mail, 31 August 1970.
- Headline: The reality of emergency.
- The Nelson Evening Mail, 31 August 1970.
- Nelson-Marlborough Regional Council. (1991). Takaka Flood Frequency, Maps and Newspapers, Reports of Historical Floods. Nelson-Marlborough Regional Council, pp.61.
- New Zealand Meteorological Service. Meteorological Observations for 1970, Stations in New Zealand and Outlying Islands, Including the Cook Group.
- New Zealand Meteorological Service. (2008). Meteorology of Extreme Rainfalls in New Zealand (Mark Pascoe, Ed.).
- Southland Regional Council (CD).
August 1970 Upper South Island Flooding
(
1970-08-28
)
2-100 years
Heavy rain, flooding, slips and high winds occurred in parts of the upper South Island. Roads and properties were affected. Flooding was severe in the Nelson area, and two women were killed, one by a flooded stream and one by a landslide.
South Island
Multi Hazard
at
South Island
Duration: 4 days - From the 28th to the 31st of August.
A north-westerly airstream was jammed into a narrow channel between an anticyclone north-east of the country and a deep depression far to its south-west. A frontal band parked itself over the Nelson area.
Marlborough
High Wind / Gust
at
Marlborough
Marlborough experienced a gusty storm with north-west winds on the 28th.
Winds gusted to 57 mph (92 km/hr).
Winds averaged 30 mph (48 km/hr).
Heavy Rain
at
Blenheim
Some heavy showers fell in Blenheim.
Blenheim recorded 22 points (0.6 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 28th.
Blenheim recorded 54 points (1.4 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 27th.
Multi Hazard
One Blenheim to Wellington flight was cancelled on the 28th.
Heavy Rain
at
Picton
Picton recorded 1.27 in (3.2 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 28th.
Picton recorded 1.50 in (3.8 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 27th.
Tasman-Nelson
Landslide
at
Tasman-Nelson
Slips occurred.
Flooding
Stock losses among new born calves and lambs were expected to be high.
Heavy Rain
at
Bainham
Bainham recorded 4.94 in (12.5 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 31st.
Multi Hazard
at
Golden Bay
Strong north-easterly winds and rain caused considerable flooding in the Golden Bay district on the 31st.
Flooding
Civil defence was placed on standby for Golden Bay when the Takaka River threatened the Takaka township and adjacent areas.
Washouts on several roads had to be repaired to allow traffic movement.
Flooding
at
Kotinga
Three houses were evacuated at Kotinga.
Flooding
at
Lyell
The Buller River at Woolfs had a level of 6.279 m at 3pm on the 31st (Return Period approximately 2-5 years).
Multi Hazard
at
Nelson City
Rain and turbulence disrupted flights at Nelson Airport at times on the 28th. Six Wellington to Nelson flights were diverted to Blenheim.
The unofficial estimate of damage was approaching $500,000 ($6,700,000 2008 dollars).
Heavy Rain
A long spell of wet weather culminated in two days of incessant rain.
Nelson City recorded 6.46 in (16.4 cm) of rain in 36.5 hours from 1.30am on the 29th to 12pm on the 31st.
Nelson Airport recorded 5.41 in (13.7 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 30th (Return Period 50 years).
Nelson Airport recorded 4.03 in (10.2 cm) of rain in the six hours from 6pm to 12am on the 29th (Return Period 100 years).
Nelson Airport recorded 50 points (1.3 cm) of rain in one hour from 6pm to 7pm on the 29th.
Nelson Airport recorded 55 points (1.4 cm) of rain in one hour from 7pm to 8pm on the 29th.
Nelson Airport recorded 95 points (2.4 cm) of rain in one hour from 8pm to 9pm on the 29th.
Nelson Airport recorded 67 points (1.7 cm) of rain in one hour from 9pm to 10pm on the 29th.
Nelson Airport recorded 67 points (1.7 cm) of rain in one hour from 10pm to 11pm on the 29th.
Nelson Airport recorded 69 points (1.8 cm) of rain in one hour from 11pm to 12am on the 29th.
Flooding
The torrential rain resulted in swollen streams and rivers. All streams flowing through Nelson City overflowed.
Brook Stream increased its usual flow by over 100 times, and took off in new directions.
Homes were evacuated in lower Brook Street, Tasman Street, and Seymour Avenue.
Streets on both sides of Brook Stream were the worst affected, especially the northern side of Brook Street.
A Civil Defence Emergency was declared for Nelson at 1:20am on 30th August and was terminated on 1st September.
Mud and water reached window sill levels in places.
The flood was described by householders as the worst in 20 years.
Over 1000 telephone subscribers in Nelson city lost service when cables and poles were damaged in torrential rain.
Several areas were without sewerage, water, electricity and telephones. Milk tankers were used to supply fresh water.
Bridges were extensively damaged and many foot bridges were swept away. Not one bridge across Brook Stream remained undamaged.
A 67-year-old woman was carried to her death in the raging Brook Stream.
Property and servicing pipes were extensively damaged. Many homes were left with layer of silt.
A butchers shop was demolished after its foundations were eroded.
The scale of the disaster was moderate.
Two glasshouses were inundated.
A season's crop of cuttings was left flattened in silt, and would have produced $12,000 ($160,000 2008 dollars) in the year.
Water demolished 20 yards (18 m) of retaining wall and drove straight through a house.
Landslide
An 88-year-old woman died after being buried in her bed by a slip.
Heavy Rain
at
Roding River
Roding recorded 233 mm (23.3 cm) of ran in 48 hours (Return Period 65 years).
Heavy Rain
at
Takaka
Takaka recorded 4.72 in (12.0 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 31st.
Flooding
One house on Wadsworth Street was evacuated.
Flooding
at
Takaka River
The Takaka River overflowed its banks and blocked State Highway 60 at Uruwhenua, Bridgers Hollow south of the Takaka township, and at Waitapu.
The river posed a serious danger to residential areas.
Heavy Rain
at
Uruwhenua
Ururwhenua recorded 6.00 in (15.2 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 31st.
West Coast
Heavy Rain
at
West Coast
From the 25th to the 31st, areas in the Grey Catchment recorded up to 15.2cm of rain
Flooding
The Buller and Grey Rivers were in flood on the 29th.
Low-lying areas in the Buller district were under water.
Multi Hazard
Road and rail communication was cut between the Buller district and the outside world. The upper and lower Buller Gorge highways (State Highway 6) were cut in several places by slips, washouts and floods.
The coastal highway between Westport and Greymouth (State Highway 6) was cut in two places by slips and flooding.
Flooding
at
Greymouth
The Grey River reached its highest level since 1936
At mid-day on the 31st water was over 0.3m deep in some parts of the town
In Herbert Street water was up to a metre deep
Grey River peaked at 1.19pm on the 31st and was 5.4m above normal at the Dobson's gauge and discharged 4825 cumecs
Flooding
at
Inangahua Landing
The Inangahua River at the Landing had a level of 5.888 m at 9:30am on the 31st (Return Period approximately 5-10 years).
Multi Hazard
at
Karamea
Karamea was isolated.
Flooding
at
Te Kuha
The Buller River at Te Kuha reached a peak level of 12.189 m on the 31st.
The Buller River at Te Kuha had a peak flow of 8498 cumecs on the 31st.
The Buller River at Te Kuha had a level of 11.888 m at 3pm on the 31st (Return Period approximately 30 years, or a 3% Annual Exceedance Probability).
Flooding
at
Westport
The highway between Westport and Cape Foulwind and Westport Airport (State Highway 67A) was cut by flood waters.
Low-lying areas around Westport were under water.
References
- Benn, J.L. (n.d.) Major Flood Events in Greymouth, New Zealand: 1862-1988. West Coast Regional Council
- Headline: Civil Defence Declarations Since 1 January 1963.
- Declared Civil Defence Emergencies.
- Major weather events in New Zealand, Floods and High Rainfall, Floods to 31st July 2006.
- Headline: Gusty weathr did little damage.
- The Marlborough Express, 29 August 1970.
- The Nelson Evening Mail, 31 August 1970. Headline Brook Stream on rampage.
- Headline: Buller roads cut by heavy floods.
- The Nelson Evening Mail, 31 August 1970.
- Headline: Heavy flooding in Golden Bay.
- The Nelson Evening Mail, 31 August 1970.
- Headline: Nelson reels under rampaging floods, two die: Homeowners fight mud, debris.
- The Nelson Evening Mail, 31 August 1970.
- Headline: Persistent rain.
- The Nelson Evening Mail, 31 August 1970.
- Headline: Raging flood's effects in lower Brook St.
- The Nelson Evening Mail, 31 August 1970.
- Headline: The reality of emergency.
- The Nelson Evening Mail, 31 August 1970.
- Nelson-Marlborough Regional Council. (1991). Takaka Flood Frequency, Maps and Newspapers, Reports of Historical Floods. Nelson-Marlborough Regional Council, pp.61.
- New Zealand Meteorological Service. Meteorological Observations for 1970, Stations in New Zealand and Outlying Islands, Including the Cook Group.
- New Zealand Meteorological Service. (2008). Meteorology of Extreme Rainfalls in New Zealand (Mark Pascoe, Ed.).
- Southland Regional Council (CD).