NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
February 1950 Manawatu-Wanganui Flooding
(
1950-02-12
)
30 years
There was torrential rain in the Tutaenui catchment resulting in severe flooding of the Marton township. There was a hail storm in Hastings.
Hawke's Bay
Multi Hazard
at
Hastings
There was a heavy hailstorm accompained by downpours in Hastings on the 13th.
Flooding
There was extensive surface flooding in the town and countryside.
Hail
The centre of the hail storm appears to have been in Frimley.
The hail was of sufficient size to slice pieces of apple out.
In the area around Frimley ground crops were ruined.
Paddocks of pumpkins and melons took a heavy thrashing.
Several windows of Mahora School in Hastings was cracked by hail.
Manawatu-Wanganui
Multi Hazard
at
Manawatu-Wanganui
Duration: 3 days - From the 12th to the 14th of February.
Heavy Rain
Torrential rain near Wanganui and Waitotara caused widespread flooding.
Flooding
The damage was considerable.
The Wanganui-New Plymouth railway line was blocked.
The Wanganui-Marton railway line was blocked.
Heavy flooding at the Black Bridge. Water from the Upokongaro Stream rose over the handrail and the road was covered with about 6 in (0.15 m) of silt.
Waitotara Valley Road was blocked.
Flood damage was widespread in Wanganui County.
In Rangitikei County the damage totalled £7400 ($472,900 2009 dollars).
In Wanganui County the damage totalled £1300 ($83,100 2009 dollars).
There was flooding in the Okoia, Matarawa and Makirikiri Valleys. It was the heaviest recorded for more than 30 years. Creeks and streams in the ares were considerably swollen.
Landslide
The road from Fordell to Kauangaroa was blocked by slips on Reids Hill.
The Wanganui River Road was blocked by three slips between Atene and Parakino.
Kaikokopu Road was blocked by slips.
Flooding
at
Kai Iwi Stream
Kai Iwi stream overflowed at the Tokomaru West highway.
Landslide
at
Mangamahu
There were numerous slips on the Mangamahu Road.
Heavy Rain
at
Marton
The Tutaenui district recorded 4.16 in (10.57 cm) of rain in 27 hours from 9am on the 11th to 12pm on the 12th.
The Jefferson's Line recorded 3.15 in (8.00 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Marton Climatological Station recorded 2.17 in (5.51 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
There was heavy rain in the Tutaenui catchment on the 13th which caused serious flooding to the borough of Marton.
Weather for the four days preceding the 13th were particularly wet.
Heavy rainfall commenced 7:30am on the 13th generally over whole Tutaenui catchment and was heaviest in the area around Jefferson's Line. The storm duration short and at 9:30am rain had eased considerably.
The river burst its banks.
Flooding
Excessive runoff approached Marton and was concentrated in the Tutaenui Valley. Part of Marton was inundated and all farms in the area.
Access to the east and south of Marton was cut off due to floodwaters 2-3 ft (0.61-0.91 m) deep.
The floodwave progressived down the Tutaenui basin. The Bulls-Turakina State Highway was blocked by floodwaters at the dairy factory bridge.
There had never been a flood of this nature in Marton.
The full estimated discharge of the Tutaenui River under the bridge was 6500 cusecs (184 cumecs) and the full discharge was across road was 2000 cusecs (57 cumecs).
The damage resulting from the storm was considerable.
In Marton the damage totalled £3531 ($225,600 2009 dollars).
30 houses were evacuated.
The gas works flooded which caused fires to be extinguished.
There was an estimated £3000 ($191,700 2009 dollars) damage to Chenille Co.
The market gardens in the area were submerged.
The business area of town was underwater.
Houses on the eastern side of the town felt the full force of the flood and most homes were flooded inches deep.
Small outbuildings just had their roofs showing.
Water rose so fast that many farmers were caught unaware and were unable to move stock. Stock losses ran into many hundreds of pounds.
Marton District High School was completely surrounded by water to a depth of 2-3 ft (0.61-0.91 m).
The school was evacuated at mid-day.
At Marton junction the water was over the window-sill in one house.
An electrical storm caused power failure in country areas.
Cellars of two hotels in Broadway were flooded.
Flooding
at
Matarawa Stream
Matarawa Valley was underwater.
Flooding
at
Okoia
Hundreds of acres of land was inundated.
Okoia towhship was surrounded by water.
Heavy Rain
at
Porewa
Porewa recorded 2.00 in (5.08 cm) of rain in two hours.
Flooding
at
Rata
Main Trunk railway line blocked near Rata.
Flooding
at
Wanganui
Number of market gardens at were Aramoho inundated.
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.
- Headline: another Hailstorm Today: Some Crop Damage at Frimley.
- The Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, 13 February 1950.
- Headline: Marton Flooded By Tutaenui Stream.
- The Wanganui Chronicle, 14 February 1950.
- Headline: Road and Rail blockages in Wanganui Area.
- The Wanganui Chronicle, 14 February 1950.
February 1950 Manawatu-Wanganui Flooding
(
1950-02-12
)
30 years
There was torrential rain in the Tutaenui catchment resulting in severe flooding of the Marton township. There was a hail storm in Hastings.
Hawke's Bay
Multi Hazard
at
Hastings
There was a heavy hailstorm accompained by downpours in Hastings on the 13th.
Flooding
There was extensive surface flooding in the town and countryside.
Hail
The centre of the hail storm appears to have been in Frimley.
The hail was of sufficient size to slice pieces of apple out.
In the area around Frimley ground crops were ruined.
Paddocks of pumpkins and melons took a heavy thrashing.
Several windows of Mahora School in Hastings was cracked by hail.
Manawatu-Wanganui
Multi Hazard
at
Manawatu-Wanganui
Duration: 3 days - From the 12th to the 14th of February.
Heavy Rain
Torrential rain near Wanganui and Waitotara caused widespread flooding.
Flooding
The damage was considerable.
The Wanganui-New Plymouth railway line was blocked.
The Wanganui-Marton railway line was blocked.
Heavy flooding at the Black Bridge. Water from the Upokongaro Stream rose over the handrail and the road was covered with about 6 in (0.15 m) of silt.
Waitotara Valley Road was blocked.
Flood damage was widespread in Wanganui County.
In Rangitikei County the damage totalled £7400 ($472,900 2009 dollars).
In Wanganui County the damage totalled £1300 ($83,100 2009 dollars).
There was flooding in the Okoia, Matarawa and Makirikiri Valleys. It was the heaviest recorded for more than 30 years. Creeks and streams in the ares were considerably swollen.
Landslide
The road from Fordell to Kauangaroa was blocked by slips on Reids Hill.
The Wanganui River Road was blocked by three slips between Atene and Parakino.
Kaikokopu Road was blocked by slips.
Flooding
at
Kai Iwi Stream
Kai Iwi stream overflowed at the Tokomaru West highway.
Landslide
at
Mangamahu
There were numerous slips on the Mangamahu Road.
Heavy Rain
at
Marton
The Tutaenui district recorded 4.16 in (10.57 cm) of rain in 27 hours from 9am on the 11th to 12pm on the 12th.
The Jefferson's Line recorded 3.15 in (8.00 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Marton Climatological Station recorded 2.17 in (5.51 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
There was heavy rain in the Tutaenui catchment on the 13th which caused serious flooding to the borough of Marton.
Weather for the four days preceding the 13th were particularly wet.
Heavy rainfall commenced 7:30am on the 13th generally over whole Tutaenui catchment and was heaviest in the area around Jefferson's Line. The storm duration short and at 9:30am rain had eased considerably.
The river burst its banks.
Flooding
Excessive runoff approached Marton and was concentrated in the Tutaenui Valley. Part of Marton was inundated and all farms in the area.
Access to the east and south of Marton was cut off due to floodwaters 2-3 ft (0.61-0.91 m) deep.
The floodwave progressived down the Tutaenui basin. The Bulls-Turakina State Highway was blocked by floodwaters at the dairy factory bridge.
There had never been a flood of this nature in Marton.
The full estimated discharge of the Tutaenui River under the bridge was 6500 cusecs (184 cumecs) and the full discharge was across road was 2000 cusecs (57 cumecs).
The damage resulting from the storm was considerable.
In Marton the damage totalled £3531 ($225,600 2009 dollars).
30 houses were evacuated.
The gas works flooded which caused fires to be extinguished.
There was an estimated £3000 ($191,700 2009 dollars) damage to Chenille Co.
The market gardens in the area were submerged.
The business area of town was underwater.
Houses on the eastern side of the town felt the full force of the flood and most homes were flooded inches deep.
Small outbuildings just had their roofs showing.
Water rose so fast that many farmers were caught unaware and were unable to move stock. Stock losses ran into many hundreds of pounds.
Marton District High School was completely surrounded by water to a depth of 2-3 ft (0.61-0.91 m).
The school was evacuated at mid-day.
At Marton junction the water was over the window-sill in one house.
An electrical storm caused power failure in country areas.
Cellars of two hotels in Broadway were flooded.
Flooding
at
Matarawa Stream
Matarawa Valley was underwater.
Flooding
at
Okoia
Hundreds of acres of land was inundated.
Okoia towhship was surrounded by water.
Heavy Rain
at
Porewa
Porewa recorded 2.00 in (5.08 cm) of rain in two hours.
Flooding
at
Rata
Main Trunk railway line blocked near Rata.
Flooding
at
Wanganui
Number of market gardens at were Aramoho inundated.
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.
- Headline: another Hailstorm Today: Some Crop Damage at Frimley.
- The Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, 13 February 1950.
- Headline: Marton Flooded By Tutaenui Stream.
- The Wanganui Chronicle, 14 February 1950.
- Headline: Road and Rail blockages in Wanganui Area.
- The Wanganui Chronicle, 14 February 1950.