NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
February 1932 Canterbury Flooding
(
1932-02-20
)
Heavy rain caused flooding in the Waimate district and also North Canterbury. Roads and railway lines were affected.
Canterbury
Multi Hazard
at
Canterbury
Duration: 2 days - There was heavy rain and severe flooding in Canterbury on the 20th to the 22nd of February.
Heavy Rain
In some districts the rain fall was phenomenal, with consequent washouts, wrecked bridges and flooded rivers.
Flooding
Serious damage resulted in some areas.
Train services were seriously affected.
Waimate county suffered damage of £3210 ($316,500 2009 dollars) to roads.
The damage to main highways cost £2325 ($229,250 2009 dollars).
There was damage to bridges.
Creeks and rivers were in very high flood.
Heavy Rain
at
Ashburton
Ashburton recorded 1.75 in (4.45 cm) of rain in 48 hours.
Flooding
at
Ashley River
Ashley River was running bank high, the level coming to within a few feet of the bridge.
Heavy Rain
at
Cheviot
Cheviot recorded 2.0 in (5.08 cm) of rain.
Heavy Rain
at
Christchurch
Christchurch recorded 2.54 in (6.45 cm) of rain in 48 hours.
Heavy Rain
at
Hapuku
Hapuka recorded 10.75 in (27.31 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Heavy Rain
at
Hook
Hook recorded 3.95 in (10.03 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Hook recorded 5.56 in (14.12 cm) of rain in four days.
Flooding
There were extensive wash outs on the main line to Hook.
The north approach to Croucher's Bridge at Hook was damaged.
Water was entering houses on main road to Hook.
Heavy Rain
at
Hororata
Hororata recorded over 1.5 in (3.81 cm) of rain.
Heavy Rain
at
Hunter
Hunter recorded 5.27 in (13.39 cm) of rain in 30 hours.
Heavy Rain
at
Kaikoura
Seven miles from Kaikoura 10.75 in (27.31 cm) of rain was recorded in 24 hours.
Kaikoura recorded 2.75 in (6.99 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Widespread flooding caused damage to Kaikoura.
Several slips and washouts occurred on the roads.
One bridge was washed away and several others were damaged.
The amage to main highways in area cost £460 ($45,400 2009 dollars).
Heavy Rain
at
Kirwee
Kirwee recorded 1.24 in (3.15 cm) of rain.
Flooding
at
Little River
The approaches to Little River bridge and the bridge itself were considerably damaged.
Flooding
at
Makikihi
There was 18 in (0.46 m) of water on the main road between the bridges over the Makikihi River.
Flooding
at
Maungati
All bridges on the back line road had been broken away.
Parts of the Maungati and Craigmore bridges were gone.
Heavy Rain
at
Methven
Methven recorded 2.25 in (5.72 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Heavy Rain
at
Morven
Morven recorded 2.86 in (7.26 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Morven recorded 3.80 in (9.65 cm) of rain in four days.
Heavy Rain
at
Mount Nimrod
Mt Nimrod recorded 17 in (43.18 cm) of rain in five days.
Mt Nimrod recorded 9.8 in (24.89 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Rainfall continued unabated.
Flooding
The bridge was washed away by the flooded stream and a second bridge was completely submerged.
Heavy Rain
at
Mount Somers
Mount Somers recorded 83 points (2.93 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Flooding
at
Pareora
Pareora River wrecked the main railway bridge, the two centre piers were swept away, cutting off all communication between Timaru and Invercargill. The bridge was covered with flood water to a depth of 15 inches (0.38 m). The river also broke through the protective groyne.
The north side of the river overflowed its banks and swirled into the Pareora township between Brooklyn's Hill.
Roads near Pareora were under water and impassable.
Flood in the Pareora came down with phenomenal suddenness.
Flood waters reached one foot (0.30 m) up the wall of the pumping station at the Pareora freezing works.
Heavy Rain
at
Orari
Orari recorded 1.30 in (3.30 cm) of rain.
Flooding
at
Otaio
The river was running in high flood and washed out approximately 25 yards (23 m) of the approach to the railway bridge on north side. It was impassable to rail traffic.
A dozen motorists were stranded on the road in their cars due to the road being flooded.
Flooding
at
Oxford
Eyre River was in high flood at Oxford.
Heavy Rain
at
Rakaia
Rakaia recorded 78 points (2.75 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Heavy Rain
at
Rangiora
Rangiora recorded 2.58 in (6.55 cm) of rain.
Heavy Rain
at
Studholme
Studholme recorded 2.70 in (6.86 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Heavy Rain
at
Timaru
Timaru recorded 3.28 in (8.33 cm) of rain over five days from the 17th to the 21st.
For over 50 hours Timaru was lashed by a continuous driving rain.
Flooding
at
Waimakariri River
Water from the Eyre flooded the Waimakariri River, which was was 2.5 ft (0.76 m) above normal at the Waimakariri Construction Camp and the traffic bridge.
Heavy Rain
at
Waimate
McCullochs Bridge recorded 2.30 in (5.84 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Flooding
Serious floods quickly followed heavy rains that fell in the Waimate district.
Several bridges were swept away by raging creeks and other were damaged. Garland's bridge was damaged and the traffic bridge on Point Bush Road was washed away. The approaches to some bridges were washed away and road traffic was blocked.
Waimate Creek was carrying the greatest flood the past ten years. The raging torrent covered acres of land along its banks.
A cottage on Point Bush Road, was surrounded by a lake of water.
The foot bridge was damage and completely unusable.
The waters of the Waimate Creek had overflowed in the vicinity of Knottingly Park. Flood waters were streaming down the road in front of several dwellings and it was necessary to remove several occupants.
The groin above Garland's Bridge was washed away.
The north approach to the Croucher Bridge washed away.
Gorge Road was blocked.
Peter Stream was impassable.
Heavy Rain
at
Waipara
Waipara recorded over 0.5 in (1.27 cm) of rain.
Heavy Rain
at
Woolford House
Woolford House recorded 7.80 in (19.81 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
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: Good Rains, Fall General Over Plains.
- The Press, 22 February 1932.
- Headline: Serious Floods, Bridges Swept Away.
- The Press, 22 February 1932.
- Headline: Railway Bridge Damaged.
- The Press, 22 February 1932.
- Headline: Timaru Lashed By Rain.
- The Press, 22 February 1932.
February 1932 Canterbury Flooding
(
1932-02-20
)
Heavy rain caused flooding in the Waimate district and also North Canterbury. Roads and railway lines were affected.
Canterbury
Multi Hazard
at
Canterbury
Duration: 2 days - There was heavy rain and severe flooding in Canterbury on the 20th to the 22nd of February.
Heavy Rain
In some districts the rain fall was phenomenal, with consequent washouts, wrecked bridges and flooded rivers.
Flooding
Serious damage resulted in some areas.
Train services were seriously affected.
Waimate county suffered damage of £3210 ($316,500 2009 dollars) to roads.
The damage to main highways cost £2325 ($229,250 2009 dollars).
There was damage to bridges.
Creeks and rivers were in very high flood.
Heavy Rain
at
Ashburton
Ashburton recorded 1.75 in (4.45 cm) of rain in 48 hours.
Flooding
at
Ashley River
Ashley River was running bank high, the level coming to within a few feet of the bridge.
Heavy Rain
at
Cheviot
Cheviot recorded 2.0 in (5.08 cm) of rain.
Heavy Rain
at
Christchurch
Christchurch recorded 2.54 in (6.45 cm) of rain in 48 hours.
Heavy Rain
at
Hapuku
Hapuka recorded 10.75 in (27.31 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Heavy Rain
at
Hook
Hook recorded 3.95 in (10.03 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Hook recorded 5.56 in (14.12 cm) of rain in four days.
Flooding
There were extensive wash outs on the main line to Hook.
The north approach to Croucher's Bridge at Hook was damaged.
Water was entering houses on main road to Hook.
Heavy Rain
at
Hororata
Hororata recorded over 1.5 in (3.81 cm) of rain.
Heavy Rain
at
Hunter
Hunter recorded 5.27 in (13.39 cm) of rain in 30 hours.
Heavy Rain
at
Kaikoura
Seven miles from Kaikoura 10.75 in (27.31 cm) of rain was recorded in 24 hours.
Kaikoura recorded 2.75 in (6.99 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Widespread flooding caused damage to Kaikoura.
Several slips and washouts occurred on the roads.
One bridge was washed away and several others were damaged.
The amage to main highways in area cost £460 ($45,400 2009 dollars).
Heavy Rain
at
Kirwee
Kirwee recorded 1.24 in (3.15 cm) of rain.
Flooding
at
Little River
The approaches to Little River bridge and the bridge itself were considerably damaged.
Flooding
at
Makikihi
There was 18 in (0.46 m) of water on the main road between the bridges over the Makikihi River.
Flooding
at
Maungati
All bridges on the back line road had been broken away.
Parts of the Maungati and Craigmore bridges were gone.
Heavy Rain
at
Methven
Methven recorded 2.25 in (5.72 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Heavy Rain
at
Morven
Morven recorded 2.86 in (7.26 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Morven recorded 3.80 in (9.65 cm) of rain in four days.
Heavy Rain
at
Mount Nimrod
Mt Nimrod recorded 17 in (43.18 cm) of rain in five days.
Mt Nimrod recorded 9.8 in (24.89 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Rainfall continued unabated.
Flooding
The bridge was washed away by the flooded stream and a second bridge was completely submerged.
Heavy Rain
at
Mount Somers
Mount Somers recorded 83 points (2.93 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Flooding
at
Pareora
Pareora River wrecked the main railway bridge, the two centre piers were swept away, cutting off all communication between Timaru and Invercargill. The bridge was covered with flood water to a depth of 15 inches (0.38 m). The river also broke through the protective groyne.
The north side of the river overflowed its banks and swirled into the Pareora township between Brooklyn's Hill.
Roads near Pareora were under water and impassable.
Flood in the Pareora came down with phenomenal suddenness.
Flood waters reached one foot (0.30 m) up the wall of the pumping station at the Pareora freezing works.
Heavy Rain
at
Orari
Orari recorded 1.30 in (3.30 cm) of rain.
Flooding
at
Otaio
The river was running in high flood and washed out approximately 25 yards (23 m) of the approach to the railway bridge on north side. It was impassable to rail traffic.
A dozen motorists were stranded on the road in their cars due to the road being flooded.
Flooding
at
Oxford
Eyre River was in high flood at Oxford.
Heavy Rain
at
Rakaia
Rakaia recorded 78 points (2.75 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Heavy Rain
at
Rangiora
Rangiora recorded 2.58 in (6.55 cm) of rain.
Heavy Rain
at
Studholme
Studholme recorded 2.70 in (6.86 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Heavy Rain
at
Timaru
Timaru recorded 3.28 in (8.33 cm) of rain over five days from the 17th to the 21st.
For over 50 hours Timaru was lashed by a continuous driving rain.
Flooding
at
Waimakariri River
Water from the Eyre flooded the Waimakariri River, which was was 2.5 ft (0.76 m) above normal at the Waimakariri Construction Camp and the traffic bridge.
Heavy Rain
at
Waimate
McCullochs Bridge recorded 2.30 in (5.84 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Flooding
Serious floods quickly followed heavy rains that fell in the Waimate district.
Several bridges were swept away by raging creeks and other were damaged. Garland's bridge was damaged and the traffic bridge on Point Bush Road was washed away. The approaches to some bridges were washed away and road traffic was blocked.
Waimate Creek was carrying the greatest flood the past ten years. The raging torrent covered acres of land along its banks.
A cottage on Point Bush Road, was surrounded by a lake of water.
The foot bridge was damage and completely unusable.
The waters of the Waimate Creek had overflowed in the vicinity of Knottingly Park. Flood waters were streaming down the road in front of several dwellings and it was necessary to remove several occupants.
The groin above Garland's Bridge was washed away.
The north approach to the Croucher Bridge washed away.
Gorge Road was blocked.
Peter Stream was impassable.
Heavy Rain
at
Waipara
Waipara recorded over 0.5 in (1.27 cm) of rain.
Heavy Rain
at
Woolford House
Woolford House recorded 7.80 in (19.81 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
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: Good Rains, Fall General Over Plains.
- The Press, 22 February 1932.
- Headline: Serious Floods, Bridges Swept Away.
- The Press, 22 February 1932.
- Headline: Railway Bridge Damaged.
- The Press, 22 February 1932.
- Headline: Timaru Lashed By Rain.
- The Press, 22 February 1932.