NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
February 1944 North Island and Tasman-Nelson Storm ( 1944-02-21 )
Heavy rain, high winds and flooding occurred in Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Tasman-Nelson. Damage was done to crops and stock.
New Zealand
Multi Hazard
at
New Zealand
Duration: 3 days - From the 21st to the 23rd of February.
Many roads were blocked by flood waters, slips and washouts.
Flooding
Flooding occurred in many areas of the province.
North Island
Flooding
at
North Island
Extensive washouts occurred on the Taupo-Napier highway.
Northland
Multi Hazard
at
Northland
A storm of furious force was experienced in Northland.
The storm caused widespread devastation, the gale doing the most damage.
Roads closed included the Kaikohe-Rawene road, the Whangarei-Kaikohe road and the Whangarei-Dargaville highways.
High Wind / Gust
Fruit trees were stripped of fruit and leaves.
Power lines were down in the Bay of Islands and Mangonui County.
Multi Hazard
at
Ahipara
At Ahipara, minor damage was done to private properties and extensive damage was done to trees and orchards.
High Wind / Gust
A garage was blown down by the gale at Ahipara.
Multi Hazard
at
Awanui
At Awanui, minor damage was done to private properties and extensive damage was done to trees and orchards.
High Wind / Gust
A cowshed on the Awanui road disintegrated.
Heavy Rain
at
Dargaville
Dargaville recorded 3.33 in (8.5 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
High Wind / Gust
at
Herekino
At Herekino, two houses were blown down by the gale.
Heavy Rain
at
Kaikohe
Kaikohe recorded over 4.00 in (10.2 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Heavy Rain
at
Kaitaia
Kaitaia recorded 3.13 in (8.0 cm) of rain in 36 hours.
Multi Hazard
At Kaitaia, minor damage was done to private properties and extensive damage was done to trees and orchards.
High Wind / Gust
Kaitaia was without power for two hours.
Damage was done to telephone lines between Kaitaia and Waipapakauri.
Heavy Rain
at
Kohukohu
Kohukohu recorded 5.10 in (13.0 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Flooding
at
Mangakahia River
The flood in the upper Mangakahia Valley was the worst flood for 16 years.
There were considerable sheep losses.
Three miles (4.8 km) of road between Twin Bridges and Pakotai was under water.
The water over the road was over 5 ft (1.5 m) deep in some places.
Multi Hazard
at
Mangamuka
At Maungamuka, minor damage was done to private properties and extensive damage was done to trees and orchards.
Heavy Rain
at
Mangonui
Mangonui recorded 4.43 in (11.3 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
High Wind / Gust
at
Pakaraka
The main telephone communication lines north were cut at Pakaraka.
Multi Hazard
at
Pukepoto
At Pukepoto, minor damage was done to private properties and extensive damage was done to trees and orchards.
Flooding
at
Titoki
At Titoki bridge the Mangakahia River was in full flood.
Multi Hazard
at
Victoria Valley
At Victoria Valley, minor damage was done to private properties and extensive damage was done to trees and orchards.
Flooding
at
Waimate North
The Waitangi bridge at Waimate North was washed out.
High Wind / Gust
at
Waipapakauri
Waipapakauri recorded a peak wind gust of 64 knots (119 km/hr), at 050 degrees true.
Heavy Rain
at
Whangarei
Whangarei recorded 2.4 in (6.1 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Whangarei recorded 1.36 in (3.5 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Whangarei recorded 3.79 in (9.6 cm) of rain in 36 hours.
Auckland
Multi Hazard
at
Auckland
Auckland was swept by a north-easterly storm on the 21st.
Damage was done to telecommunications.
Heavy Rain
at
Auckland City
Auckland City recorded 1.85 in (4.7 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Flooding
There was flooding in parts of Auckland city. Shops on Queen Street were flooded to a small extent, and one building was flooded on all three floors.
Queen Street and the main street were covered in 2 in (5 cm) of water.
High Wind / Gust
Trees were blown over.
Maritime / Coastal
Several small boats in the harbour were filled with water and sank at their moorings.
Waikato
Flooding
at
Rangitaiki
Extensive washouts occurred on the Taupo-Napier highway, particularly around Rangitaiki.
Bay of Plenty
Flooding
at
Bay of Plenty
The Bay of Plenty experienced a flood on the 22nd.
Stock losses were considerable.
Many streets were awash and a heavy layer of silt covered many streets.
Heavy Rain
The Edgecumbe-Urewera strip received up to 240 mm (24.0 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
The heavy rain caused damage to crops and trees bearing fruit. Tomato crops were battered and fruit was knocked off trees.
Multi Hazard
It was described as a “cyclone of tropical origin”, but was not necessarily a “true” tropical cyclone.
A blocking high to the east of New Zealand prevented eastward movement of a front across Bay of Plenty. The heaviest rain occurred within the front and in a strong north-north-east flow on its eastern side. There was strong low-level convergence between the north-north-east low east of the front, and the north-westerly flow to the west of it.
Flooding
at
Edgecumbe
The approach to the railway bridge at Edgecumbe was washed out. The railway service to Taneatua was dislocated.
Heavy Rain
at
Kaingaroa Forest
Kaingaroa recorded 2.97 in (7.5 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 21st.
Kaingaroa recorded 7.36 in (18.7 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 22nd.
Heavy Rain
at
Lake Rotoma
Lake Rotoma recorded 3.65 in (9.3 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 21st.
Lake Rotoma recorded 9.35 in (23.7 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 22nd.
Flooding
at
Rangitaiki River
The Rangitaiki River rose and caused flooding on an extensive scale in the Rangitaiki Plains.
There were large stock losses in the area.
Heavy Rain
at
Rotorua
Rotorua recorded 2.20 in (5.6 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 21st.
Rotorua recorded 5.76 in (14.6 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 22nd (Return Period 10 years).
Most of that rain fell in three hours (Return Period over 150 years).
East of Rotorua received about 380 mm (38.0 cm) of rain in three days.
Whakarewarewa recorded 2.09 in (5.3 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 21st.
Whakarewarewa recorded 5.85 in (14.9 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 22nd.
Flooding
at
Te Teko
The Rangitaiki River at Te Teko had a peak discharge of 27,660 cumecs (783 cumecs) on the 24th, with a catchment area of 1117 square miles (2893 km^2).
The Rangitaiki River at Te Teko reached a gauge height of 19.52 ft (5.95 m) on the 24th.
Flooding
at
Whakatane
The Whakatane township was isolated by flood waters when the Whakatane River overflowed its banks.
Many acres of farmland and swamp land were under several feet of water.
There was minor flooding of shops and businesses.
Tasman-Nelson
Flooding
at
Brooklyn
A creek overflowed its banks at Brooklyn.
Several tobacco gardens were inundated.
Flooding
at
Cobb River
Cobb River peaked at 6,500 cusecs (184 cumecs), with a runoff intensity of 0.36 in per hour (0.91 cm/hr).
High Wind / Gust
at
Lower Moutere
In the lower Moutere district, the gale uprooted fruit trees.
Multi Hazard
at
Motueka
An easterly gale with heavy rain was experienced in the Motueka and Riwaka areas on the 22nd.
Flooding
The Motueka River overflowed its banks and considerable flooding occurred.
Damage was done to tobacco crops and fruit trees.
The main highway was flooded.
There was water 4 ft (1.2 m) deep over the highway.
Stock losses were negligible.
High Wind / Gust
at
Nelson
Nelson Aerodrome recorded a peak wind speed of 82 knots (152 km/hr) on the 22nd, at 60 degrees true.
Flooding
at
Takaka
At Takaka, the river overflowed its banks and flooded large areas of land.
The highway was flooded north and south of the town.
Heavy Rain
at
Upper Takaka
Upper Takaka recorded 5.88 in (14.9 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
References
- Headline: Wash-out on railway.
- The Bay of Plenty Times, 25 February 1944.
- Cowie, C.A.; Attwood, A.K. (1957). Floods in New Zealand 1920-1953. The Soil Conservation Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand.
- New Zealand Meteorological Service. Technicial Information Circular No.191, Extreme Wind Gusts.
- New Zealand Meteorological Service. (2008). Meteorology of Extreme Rainfalls in New Zealand (Mark Pascoe, Ed.).
- Headline: Fierce gale causes damage in north, but floods subside.
- The Northern Advocate, 22 February 1944.
- Headline: Tempest in Auckland.
- The Northern Advocate, 22 February 1944.
- Headline: Three buildings blown down in Far North.
- The Northern Advocate, 22 February 1944.
- Headline: Sheep drowned in Mangakahia Valley.
- The Northern Advocate, 23 February 1944.
- Shearer, A.R. (1969). Hydrology Annual, No.14 1966. Published by the Ministry of Works, The Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand.
February 1944 North Island and Tasman-Nelson Storm ( 1944-02-21 )
Heavy rain, high winds and flooding occurred in Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Tasman-Nelson. Damage was done to crops and stock.
New Zealand
Multi Hazard
at
New Zealand
Duration: 3 days - From the 21st to the 23rd of February.
Many roads were blocked by flood waters, slips and washouts.
Flooding
Flooding occurred in many areas of the province.
North Island
Flooding
at
North Island
Extensive washouts occurred on the Taupo-Napier highway.
Northland
Multi Hazard
at
Northland
A storm of furious force was experienced in Northland.
The storm caused widespread devastation, the gale doing the most damage.
Roads closed included the Kaikohe-Rawene road, the Whangarei-Kaikohe road and the Whangarei-Dargaville highways.
High Wind / Gust
Fruit trees were stripped of fruit and leaves.
Power lines were down in the Bay of Islands and Mangonui County.
Multi Hazard
at
Ahipara
At Ahipara, minor damage was done to private properties and extensive damage was done to trees and orchards.
High Wind / Gust
A garage was blown down by the gale at Ahipara.
Multi Hazard
at
Awanui
At Awanui, minor damage was done to private properties and extensive damage was done to trees and orchards.
High Wind / Gust
A cowshed on the Awanui road disintegrated.
Heavy Rain
at
Dargaville
Dargaville recorded 3.33 in (8.5 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
High Wind / Gust
at
Herekino
At Herekino, two houses were blown down by the gale.
Heavy Rain
at
Kaikohe
Kaikohe recorded over 4.00 in (10.2 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Heavy Rain
at
Kaitaia
Kaitaia recorded 3.13 in (8.0 cm) of rain in 36 hours.
Multi Hazard
At Kaitaia, minor damage was done to private properties and extensive damage was done to trees and orchards.
High Wind / Gust
Kaitaia was without power for two hours.
Damage was done to telephone lines between Kaitaia and Waipapakauri.
Heavy Rain
at
Kohukohu
Kohukohu recorded 5.10 in (13.0 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Flooding
at
Mangakahia River
The flood in the upper Mangakahia Valley was the worst flood for 16 years.
There were considerable sheep losses.
Three miles (4.8 km) of road between Twin Bridges and Pakotai was under water.
The water over the road was over 5 ft (1.5 m) deep in some places.
Multi Hazard
at
Mangamuka
At Maungamuka, minor damage was done to private properties and extensive damage was done to trees and orchards.
Heavy Rain
at
Mangonui
Mangonui recorded 4.43 in (11.3 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
High Wind / Gust
at
Pakaraka
The main telephone communication lines north were cut at Pakaraka.
Multi Hazard
at
Pukepoto
At Pukepoto, minor damage was done to private properties and extensive damage was done to trees and orchards.
Flooding
at
Titoki
At Titoki bridge the Mangakahia River was in full flood.
Multi Hazard
at
Victoria Valley
At Victoria Valley, minor damage was done to private properties and extensive damage was done to trees and orchards.
Flooding
at
Waimate North
The Waitangi bridge at Waimate North was washed out.
High Wind / Gust
at
Waipapakauri
Waipapakauri recorded a peak wind gust of 64 knots (119 km/hr), at 050 degrees true.
Heavy Rain
at
Whangarei
Whangarei recorded 2.4 in (6.1 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Whangarei recorded 1.36 in (3.5 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Whangarei recorded 3.79 in (9.6 cm) of rain in 36 hours.
Auckland
Multi Hazard
at
Auckland
Auckland was swept by a north-easterly storm on the 21st.
Damage was done to telecommunications.
Heavy Rain
at
Auckland City
Auckland City recorded 1.85 in (4.7 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Flooding
There was flooding in parts of Auckland city. Shops on Queen Street were flooded to a small extent, and one building was flooded on all three floors.
Queen Street and the main street were covered in 2 in (5 cm) of water.
High Wind / Gust
Trees were blown over.
Maritime / Coastal
Several small boats in the harbour were filled with water and sank at their moorings.
Waikato
Flooding
at
Rangitaiki
Extensive washouts occurred on the Taupo-Napier highway, particularly around Rangitaiki.
Bay of Plenty
Flooding
at
Bay of Plenty
The Bay of Plenty experienced a flood on the 22nd.
Stock losses were considerable.
Many streets were awash and a heavy layer of silt covered many streets.
Heavy Rain
The Edgecumbe-Urewera strip received up to 240 mm (24.0 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
The heavy rain caused damage to crops and trees bearing fruit. Tomato crops were battered and fruit was knocked off trees.
Multi Hazard
It was described as a “cyclone of tropical origin”, but was not necessarily a “true” tropical cyclone.
A blocking high to the east of New Zealand prevented eastward movement of a front across Bay of Plenty. The heaviest rain occurred within the front and in a strong north-north-east flow on its eastern side. There was strong low-level convergence between the north-north-east low east of the front, and the north-westerly flow to the west of it.
Flooding
at
Edgecumbe
The approach to the railway bridge at Edgecumbe was washed out. The railway service to Taneatua was dislocated.
Heavy Rain
at
Kaingaroa Forest
Kaingaroa recorded 2.97 in (7.5 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 21st.
Kaingaroa recorded 7.36 in (18.7 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 22nd.
Heavy Rain
at
Lake Rotoma
Lake Rotoma recorded 3.65 in (9.3 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 21st.
Lake Rotoma recorded 9.35 in (23.7 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 22nd.
Flooding
at
Rangitaiki River
The Rangitaiki River rose and caused flooding on an extensive scale in the Rangitaiki Plains.
There were large stock losses in the area.
Heavy Rain
at
Rotorua
Rotorua recorded 2.20 in (5.6 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 21st.
Rotorua recorded 5.76 in (14.6 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 22nd (Return Period 10 years).
Most of that rain fell in three hours (Return Period over 150 years).
East of Rotorua received about 380 mm (38.0 cm) of rain in three days.
Whakarewarewa recorded 2.09 in (5.3 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 21st.
Whakarewarewa recorded 5.85 in (14.9 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 22nd.
Flooding
at
Te Teko
The Rangitaiki River at Te Teko had a peak discharge of 27,660 cumecs (783 cumecs) on the 24th, with a catchment area of 1117 square miles (2893 km^2).
The Rangitaiki River at Te Teko reached a gauge height of 19.52 ft (5.95 m) on the 24th.
Flooding
at
Whakatane
The Whakatane township was isolated by flood waters when the Whakatane River overflowed its banks.
Many acres of farmland and swamp land were under several feet of water.
There was minor flooding of shops and businesses.
Tasman-Nelson
Flooding
at
Brooklyn
A creek overflowed its banks at Brooklyn.
Several tobacco gardens were inundated.
Flooding
at
Cobb River
Cobb River peaked at 6,500 cusecs (184 cumecs), with a runoff intensity of 0.36 in per hour (0.91 cm/hr).
High Wind / Gust
at
Lower Moutere
In the lower Moutere district, the gale uprooted fruit trees.
Multi Hazard
at
Motueka
An easterly gale with heavy rain was experienced in the Motueka and Riwaka areas on the 22nd.
Flooding
The Motueka River overflowed its banks and considerable flooding occurred.
Damage was done to tobacco crops and fruit trees.
The main highway was flooded.
There was water 4 ft (1.2 m) deep over the highway.
Stock losses were negligible.
High Wind / Gust
at
Nelson
Nelson Aerodrome recorded a peak wind speed of 82 knots (152 km/hr) on the 22nd, at 60 degrees true.
Flooding
at
Takaka
At Takaka, the river overflowed its banks and flooded large areas of land.
The highway was flooded north and south of the town.
Heavy Rain
at
Upper Takaka
Upper Takaka recorded 5.88 in (14.9 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
References
- Headline: Wash-out on railway.
- The Bay of Plenty Times, 25 February 1944.
- Cowie, C.A.; Attwood, A.K. (1957). Floods in New Zealand 1920-1953. The Soil Conservation Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand.
- New Zealand Meteorological Service. Technicial Information Circular No.191, Extreme Wind Gusts.
- New Zealand Meteorological Service. (2008). Meteorology of Extreme Rainfalls in New Zealand (Mark Pascoe, Ed.).
- Headline: Fierce gale causes damage in north, but floods subside.
- The Northern Advocate, 22 February 1944.
- Headline: Tempest in Auckland.
- The Northern Advocate, 22 February 1944.
- Headline: Three buildings blown down in Far North.
- The Northern Advocate, 22 February 1944.
- Headline: Sheep drowned in Mangakahia Valley.
- The Northern Advocate, 23 February 1944.
- Shearer, A.R. (1969). Hydrology Annual, No.14 1966. Published by the Ministry of Works, The Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand.