NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
February 1947 Wellington Storm
(
1947-02-14
)
A cyclonic storm from south, brought high winds and heavy rain to the Cook Strait area from the 14th to the 15th of February. Heavy seas, high winds and flooding caused damage to property, roads, rail, power and telephone services.
New Zealand
Maritime / Coastal
at
New Zealand
The 'Hinemoa' at Lyttelton was eight hours late due to conditions.
Manawatu-Wanganui
High Wind / Gust
at
Ohakea
Ohakea had wind gusts of 93 mph (150 km/hr).
Wellington
Multi Hazard
at
Wellington
Duration: 2 days - A cyclonic storm from south, brought high winds and heavy rain to the Cook Strait area from the 14th to the 15th of February.
High Wind / Gust
High winds contributed to the damage. Telephone lines, powerlines, trees and buildings suffered damage.
Express trains were delayed.
The Hutt Valley rail services were cancelled.
Telephone and telegraph circuits in and out of Wellington, around the city and in Hutt Valley were down.
Trees were blown across roads.
There were falling trees, flying branches, collapsed poles and wires, sheet iron, tiles, and chunks of wood.
Over 3000 people in Wellington and Hutt Valley had their telephones down.
Flooding
Some houses were evacuated due to severe leakage from unroofing.
Air services were cancelled due to poor visibility and water logged aerodomes at Rongotai and Paraparaumu on the 14th and 15th.
Extensive flooding occurred along the main route, north of Paekakariki and Waikanae.
Maritime / Coastal
The bays in the Cook Strait received the worst battering. Waves 20 ft (6.1 m) in height were crashing right up to the bathing sheds.
Landslide
There were numerous slips on roads especially in Hutt Valley.
Heavy Rain
at
Castle Point
Castle Point recorded 160 mm (16.0 cm) of rain.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Eastbourne
There was severe erosion of the seawall at the south end of the district and there was also a mass of thousands of jellyfish dumped among other debris by the huge waves.
Flooding
at
Hutt River
The Hutt River had an approximate discharge of 37,000 cusecs (1048 cumecs).
High Wind / Gust
at
Hutt Valley
Damage was widespread to properties. Houses were unroofed, windows were shattered, tall chimneys fell down and fences were blown down.
Multi Hazard
Rail services to the Hutt Valley were completely out.
Tomato plants suffered the worst damage, along with bean and winter cabbages. It was estimated the damage to commercial gardens was a loss of 50-60% of the vegetable yield.
High Wind / Gust
at
Kelburn
Kelburn had wind gusts of over 70 mph (113 km/hr).
Heavy Rain
at
Lower Hutt
Lower Hutt recorded 7.2 in (18.29 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Flooding
at
Petone
Petone felt the full blast of the storm.
The railway from Wellington to the Hutt was washed out near Petone.
Petone Esplanade was completely flooded.
High Wind / Gust
One of the oldest pine trees was uprooted.
Flooding
at
Plimmerton
Extensive flooding occurred in the low lying areas along the main road.
Flooding
at
Rongotai
Wool bales were affected due to the roofs lifting of the sheds and causing water damage.
High Wind / Gust
at
Tawa Flat
One house at Tawa Flat was blown over.
Heavy Rain
at
Wellington City
Wellington recorded 4.05 in (10.29 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
High Wind / Gust
In Wellington wind gusts reached up to 78 mph (126 km/hr).
Two verandahs in Jackson Street collapsed.
Sheets of iron were blown off the YMCA building.
Maritime / Coastal
The inter-island ferry Rangatira took 2.5 hours to berth at Wellington.
From Breaker Bay to Ohiro Bay huge drifts of seaweed, debris, and sand was piled up by the sea.
Two launches broke from moorings at Evans Bay and were driven ashore.
Multi Hazard
The damage done to the power lines and the electricity supply in Wellington was the worst ever known.
References
- Cowie, C.A; Attwood, A.K.(1957) FLOODS in NEW ZEALAND 1920 -53, The Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand 239p.
- Hydrology Annual No.3 1955, Soil Conservation and River Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand
- Major weather events in New Zealand, FLOODS and HIGH RAINFALL, Floods to 30 Sep 2005
- Headline: Heavy storm damage.
- The Evening Post, February 15 1947.
- Headline: Serous Damage, Weekend Storm.
- The Evening Post, February 17 1947.
February 1947 Wellington Storm
(
1947-02-14
)
A cyclonic storm from south, brought high winds and heavy rain to the Cook Strait area from the 14th to the 15th of February. Heavy seas, high winds and flooding caused damage to property, roads, rail, power and telephone services.
New Zealand
Maritime / Coastal
at
New Zealand
The 'Hinemoa' at Lyttelton was eight hours late due to conditions.
Manawatu-Wanganui
High Wind / Gust
at
Ohakea
Ohakea had wind gusts of 93 mph (150 km/hr).
Wellington
Multi Hazard
at
Wellington
Duration: 2 days - A cyclonic storm from south, brought high winds and heavy rain to the Cook Strait area from the 14th to the 15th of February.
High Wind / Gust
High winds contributed to the damage. Telephone lines, powerlines, trees and buildings suffered damage.
Express trains were delayed.
The Hutt Valley rail services were cancelled.
Telephone and telegraph circuits in and out of Wellington, around the city and in Hutt Valley were down.
Trees were blown across roads.
There were falling trees, flying branches, collapsed poles and wires, sheet iron, tiles, and chunks of wood.
Over 3000 people in Wellington and Hutt Valley had their telephones down.
Flooding
Some houses were evacuated due to severe leakage from unroofing.
Air services were cancelled due to poor visibility and water logged aerodomes at Rongotai and Paraparaumu on the 14th and 15th.
Extensive flooding occurred along the main route, north of Paekakariki and Waikanae.
Maritime / Coastal
The bays in the Cook Strait received the worst battering. Waves 20 ft (6.1 m) in height were crashing right up to the bathing sheds.
Landslide
There were numerous slips on roads especially in Hutt Valley.
Heavy Rain
at
Castle Point
Castle Point recorded 160 mm (16.0 cm) of rain.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Eastbourne
There was severe erosion of the seawall at the south end of the district and there was also a mass of thousands of jellyfish dumped among other debris by the huge waves.
Flooding
at
Hutt River
The Hutt River had an approximate discharge of 37,000 cusecs (1048 cumecs).
High Wind / Gust
at
Hutt Valley
Damage was widespread to properties. Houses were unroofed, windows were shattered, tall chimneys fell down and fences were blown down.
Multi Hazard
Rail services to the Hutt Valley were completely out.
Tomato plants suffered the worst damage, along with bean and winter cabbages. It was estimated the damage to commercial gardens was a loss of 50-60% of the vegetable yield.
High Wind / Gust
at
Kelburn
Kelburn had wind gusts of over 70 mph (113 km/hr).
Heavy Rain
at
Lower Hutt
Lower Hutt recorded 7.2 in (18.29 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Flooding
at
Petone
Petone felt the full blast of the storm.
The railway from Wellington to the Hutt was washed out near Petone.
Petone Esplanade was completely flooded.
High Wind / Gust
One of the oldest pine trees was uprooted.
Flooding
at
Plimmerton
Extensive flooding occurred in the low lying areas along the main road.
Flooding
at
Rongotai
Wool bales were affected due to the roofs lifting of the sheds and causing water damage.
High Wind / Gust
at
Tawa Flat
One house at Tawa Flat was blown over.
Heavy Rain
at
Wellington City
Wellington recorded 4.05 in (10.29 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
High Wind / Gust
In Wellington wind gusts reached up to 78 mph (126 km/hr).
Two verandahs in Jackson Street collapsed.
Sheets of iron were blown off the YMCA building.
Maritime / Coastal
The inter-island ferry Rangatira took 2.5 hours to berth at Wellington.
From Breaker Bay to Ohiro Bay huge drifts of seaweed, debris, and sand was piled up by the sea.
Two launches broke from moorings at Evans Bay and were driven ashore.
Multi Hazard
The damage done to the power lines and the electricity supply in Wellington was the worst ever known.
References
- Cowie, C.A; Attwood, A.K.(1957) FLOODS in NEW ZEALAND 1920 -53, The Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand 239p.
- Hydrology Annual No.3 1955, Soil Conservation and River Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand
- Major weather events in New Zealand, FLOODS and HIGH RAINFALL, Floods to 30 Sep 2005
- Headline: Heavy storm damage.
- The Evening Post, February 15 1947.
- Headline: Serous Damage, Weekend Storm.
- The Evening Post, February 17 1947.