NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
February 1938 Auckland Thunderstorm ( 1938-02-12 )
Auckland experienced thunderstorms, with lightning, heavy rain, flooding and landslips. One life was lost and one person was temporrily paralysed by a lightning flash.
Auckland
Multi Hazard
at
Auckland
Duration: 1 day -
The Auckland province experienced a rainstorm and electrical storm on the 12th.
Roads were blocked by slips and flood water.
Damage to Rodney county roads totalled £3,000 ($270,000 2008 dollars).
Flooding
Several districts were completely isolated or seriously flooded.
Flooding
at
Kaipara Flats
The railway at Kaipara Flats was submerged 6 ft (1.8 m) deep.
Multi Hazard
at
Matakana
The Matakana township was at the centre of the storm.
One life was lost.
Flooding
At Matakana the river rose 18 ft (5.5 m) above the wharf.
A shed was washed downstream along with 68 44-gallon drums.
Landslide
Roads were covered by slips.
Lightning
Lightning struck two telegraph poles and smashed some insulators.
A motorist was temporarily paralysed by the flash of lightning.
Lightning
at
Big Omaha
Lightning struck and set fire to two homes in Big Omaha.
Heavy Rain
at
Waiheke Island
There was a severe downpour near Onetangi, Waiheke Island.
Flooding
Heavy rain on Waiheke Island brought extensive flooding.
There was a flood from 20 ft (6.1 m) to 70 ft (21.3 m) wide down one of the valleys.
Water flooded the main Onetangi road.
Lightning
Two sheep were killed by lightning.
Phone lines were out of order.
Flooding
at
Warkworth
Extensive flooding occurred in the Warkworth township.
The whole main street was flooded.
The water in the main street was 2 ft (60 cm) deep.
At Warkworth Bridge, the water was within 1 ft (30 cm) of the decking.
References
- Cowie, C.A.; Attwood, A.K. (1957). Floods in New Zealand 1920-1953. The Soil Conservation Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand.
- Headline: Swept by storm.
- The New Zealand Herald, 14 February 1938.
February 1938 Auckland Thunderstorm ( 1938-02-12 )
Auckland experienced thunderstorms, with lightning, heavy rain, flooding and landslips. One life was lost and one person was temporrily paralysed by a lightning flash.
Auckland
Multi Hazard
at
Auckland
Duration: 1 day -
The Auckland province experienced a rainstorm and electrical storm on the 12th.
Roads were blocked by slips and flood water.
Damage to Rodney county roads totalled £3,000 ($270,000 2008 dollars).
Flooding
Several districts were completely isolated or seriously flooded.
Flooding
at
Kaipara Flats
The railway at Kaipara Flats was submerged 6 ft (1.8 m) deep.
Multi Hazard
at
Matakana
The Matakana township was at the centre of the storm.
One life was lost.
Flooding
At Matakana the river rose 18 ft (5.5 m) above the wharf.
A shed was washed downstream along with 68 44-gallon drums.
Landslide
Roads were covered by slips.
Lightning
Lightning struck two telegraph poles and smashed some insulators.
A motorist was temporarily paralysed by the flash of lightning.
Lightning
at
Big Omaha
Lightning struck and set fire to two homes in Big Omaha.
Heavy Rain
at
Waiheke Island
There was a severe downpour near Onetangi, Waiheke Island.
Flooding
Heavy rain on Waiheke Island brought extensive flooding.
There was a flood from 20 ft (6.1 m) to 70 ft (21.3 m) wide down one of the valleys.
Water flooded the main Onetangi road.
Lightning
Two sheep were killed by lightning.
Phone lines were out of order.
Flooding
at
Warkworth
Extensive flooding occurred in the Warkworth township.
The whole main street was flooded.
The water in the main street was 2 ft (60 cm) deep.
At Warkworth Bridge, the water was within 1 ft (30 cm) of the decking.
References
- Cowie, C.A.; Attwood, A.K. (1957). Floods in New Zealand 1920-1953. The Soil Conservation Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand.
- Headline: Swept by storm.
- The New Zealand Herald, 14 February 1938.