NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
February 1952 Upper North Island Flooding
(
1952-02-15
)
A thunderstorm brought heavy rain to Northland, and flooding occurred there, as well as in Auckland and the Bay of Plenty.
North Island
Multi Hazard
at
North Island
Duration: -
The heavy rain was caused by a warm front which remained stationary over the area.
Flights from Auckland to Kaitaia were cancelled.
Northland
Lightning
at
Northland
A 12-hour thunderstorm caused damage to communications in central Northland on the 15th. The whole of Northland beyond Maungatapere was without power for 3 minutes after the storm. Lightning played havoc with fuses and transformers in the North Auckland Power Board's area.
Heavy Rain
Rainfall totals ranged from 150-250 mm (15.0-25.0 cm) in central Northland .
Flooding
The floods in the Whangarei district were the worst for 16 years and were comparable with the 1936 cyclonic storm.
There were losses to farmers, townspeople, and local bodies in the Whangarei district.
Serious flooding affected pastureland.
Most of the railway line between Motatau and Otiria was covered with water.
Multi Hazard
Damage to county roads totalled £6,600 ($337,700 2008 dollars) .
The affected area was bounded to the north by the Bay of Islands and to the south by Waipu.
Road, rail and air services were disrupted in the Whangarei and Middle North Districts.
Roads closed included: the Whakapara-Russell road, the Whangarei-Dargaville road, the Whangarei-Kaikohe road, the Kaikohe-Rawene road, the Rawene-Waipoua Forest road and the Kawakawa-Opua road.
The Opua-Auckland express could not run between Opua and Whangarei.
Multi Hazard
at
Dargaville
The Waihue-Dargaville road was blocked.
Flooding
at
Hikurangi
Cream runs from the Hikurangi company were affected by the floods.
Flooding
at
Hikurangi Swamp
Hikurangi swamp was inundated, becoming one huge sheet of water.
There were moderate stock losses.
Nearly all roads in the Hikurangi swamp were closed.
Heavy Rain
at
Kaikohe
Kaikohe recorded 3.35 in (8.5 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Heavy Rain
at
Kaitaia
Heavy rain fell at Kaitaia.
Flooding
at
Kawakawa
At Kawakawa, water was 1 ft (30 cm) deep across roads.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Langs Beach
A small launch at Langs Beach was destroyed by waves.
Heavy Rain
at
Maungakaramea
Maungakaramea recorded 6.16 in (15.6 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Heavy Rain
at
Maungatapere
Maungatapere recorded 5.8 in (14.7 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Flooding
at
Moerewa
There were several washouts on the railway line near Moerewa.
Flooding
at
Motatau
The northern railway line was closed by washouts near Motatau.
Multi Hazard
at
Ngararatunua
At a Ngararatunua hatchery, 388 young pheasants died from exposure.
Flooding
at
Otiria
A goods train was held up by flood waters at Otiria.
Lightning
at
Paparoa
A hall at Paparoa was struck by lightning.
Flooding
at
Taipuha
At Taipuha, flood waters were 20 ft (6.1 m) deep, with only the tops of telephone poles visible.
Flooding
at
Waipu
Flood waters surrounded several houses at Waipu.
Many houses were flooded with 1 ft (30 cm) of water.
A large launch on the Waipu River was swamped.
Heavy Rain
at
Whangarei
Whangarei recorded 6.77 in (17.2 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Whangarei recorded 4.70 in (11.9 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 16th.
Whangarei recorded over 10 in (25.4 cm) of rain in 48 hours.
Multi Hazard
Road and railways were blocked in most areas by flood waters and slips. In the Whangarei borough all highways except one were blocked.
Telephone and telegraph services were disrupted.
Flooding
Whangarei roads were submerged in 3 ft (90 cm) of water. On Maunu Road, the water was up to knee height.
Manse Street was badly flooded.
Many cream trucks could not collect cream and milk was not delivered.
Farms were inundated. One farm was completely isolated in a lake of flood waters.
Auckland
Flooding
at
Auckland
Flooding occurred in parts of Auckland city and the suburbs.
Flooding
at
Wayby
The railway line between Wayby and Hoteo was under water from 18 in to 2 ft (45-60 cm) deep.
Multi Hazard
at
Whenuapai
Whenuapai airfield was closed.
Bay of Plenty
Flooding
at
Bay of Plenty
Serious flooding affected pastureland at Tauranga on the 15th.
References
- Cowie, C.A.; Attwood, A.K. (1957). Floods in New Zealand 1920-1953. The Soil Conservation Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand.
- Major weather events in New Zealand, Floods and High Rainfall, Floods to 31st July 2006.
- Headline: Floods block Northland roads and railways.
- The New Zealand Herald, 18 February 1952.
- Headline: Floods delayed milkmen on Whangarei rounds.
- The Northern Advocate, 16 February 1952.
- Headline: Power cut for brief period
- The Northern Advocate, 16 February 1952.
- Headline: Young pheasants victims of storm.
- The Northern Advocate, 16 February 1952.
- Headline: 10 inches of rain since Friday, Record 15 inches for February.
- The Northern Advocate, 18 February 1952.
February 1952 Upper North Island Flooding
(
1952-02-15
)
A thunderstorm brought heavy rain to Northland, and flooding occurred there, as well as in Auckland and the Bay of Plenty.
North Island
Multi Hazard
at
North Island
Duration: -
The heavy rain was caused by a warm front which remained stationary over the area.
Flights from Auckland to Kaitaia were cancelled.
Northland
Lightning
at
Northland
A 12-hour thunderstorm caused damage to communications in central Northland on the 15th. The whole of Northland beyond Maungatapere was without power for 3 minutes after the storm. Lightning played havoc with fuses and transformers in the North Auckland Power Board's area.
Heavy Rain
Rainfall totals ranged from 150-250 mm (15.0-25.0 cm) in central Northland .
Flooding
The floods in the Whangarei district were the worst for 16 years and were comparable with the 1936 cyclonic storm.
There were losses to farmers, townspeople, and local bodies in the Whangarei district.
Serious flooding affected pastureland.
Most of the railway line between Motatau and Otiria was covered with water.
Multi Hazard
Damage to county roads totalled £6,600 ($337,700 2008 dollars) .
The affected area was bounded to the north by the Bay of Islands and to the south by Waipu.
Road, rail and air services were disrupted in the Whangarei and Middle North Districts.
Roads closed included: the Whakapara-Russell road, the Whangarei-Dargaville road, the Whangarei-Kaikohe road, the Kaikohe-Rawene road, the Rawene-Waipoua Forest road and the Kawakawa-Opua road.
The Opua-Auckland express could not run between Opua and Whangarei.
Multi Hazard
at
Dargaville
The Waihue-Dargaville road was blocked.
Flooding
at
Hikurangi
Cream runs from the Hikurangi company were affected by the floods.
Flooding
at
Hikurangi Swamp
Hikurangi swamp was inundated, becoming one huge sheet of water.
There were moderate stock losses.
Nearly all roads in the Hikurangi swamp were closed.
Heavy Rain
at
Kaikohe
Kaikohe recorded 3.35 in (8.5 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Heavy Rain
at
Kaitaia
Heavy rain fell at Kaitaia.
Flooding
at
Kawakawa
At Kawakawa, water was 1 ft (30 cm) deep across roads.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Langs Beach
A small launch at Langs Beach was destroyed by waves.
Heavy Rain
at
Maungakaramea
Maungakaramea recorded 6.16 in (15.6 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Heavy Rain
at
Maungatapere
Maungatapere recorded 5.8 in (14.7 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Flooding
at
Moerewa
There were several washouts on the railway line near Moerewa.
Flooding
at
Motatau
The northern railway line was closed by washouts near Motatau.
Multi Hazard
at
Ngararatunua
At a Ngararatunua hatchery, 388 young pheasants died from exposure.
Flooding
at
Otiria
A goods train was held up by flood waters at Otiria.
Lightning
at
Paparoa
A hall at Paparoa was struck by lightning.
Flooding
at
Taipuha
At Taipuha, flood waters were 20 ft (6.1 m) deep, with only the tops of telephone poles visible.
Flooding
at
Waipu
Flood waters surrounded several houses at Waipu.
Many houses were flooded with 1 ft (30 cm) of water.
A large launch on the Waipu River was swamped.
Heavy Rain
at
Whangarei
Whangarei recorded 6.77 in (17.2 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Whangarei recorded 4.70 in (11.9 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 16th.
Whangarei recorded over 10 in (25.4 cm) of rain in 48 hours.
Multi Hazard
Road and railways were blocked in most areas by flood waters and slips. In the Whangarei borough all highways except one were blocked.
Telephone and telegraph services were disrupted.
Flooding
Whangarei roads were submerged in 3 ft (90 cm) of water. On Maunu Road, the water was up to knee height.
Manse Street was badly flooded.
Many cream trucks could not collect cream and milk was not delivered.
Farms were inundated. One farm was completely isolated in a lake of flood waters.
Auckland
Flooding
at
Auckland
Flooding occurred in parts of Auckland city and the suburbs.
Flooding
at
Wayby
The railway line between Wayby and Hoteo was under water from 18 in to 2 ft (45-60 cm) deep.
Multi Hazard
at
Whenuapai
Whenuapai airfield was closed.
Bay of Plenty
Flooding
at
Bay of Plenty
Serious flooding affected pastureland at Tauranga on the 15th.
References
- Cowie, C.A.; Attwood, A.K. (1957). Floods in New Zealand 1920-1953. The Soil Conservation Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand.
- Major weather events in New Zealand, Floods and High Rainfall, Floods to 31st July 2006.
- Headline: Floods block Northland roads and railways.
- The New Zealand Herald, 18 February 1952.
- Headline: Floods delayed milkmen on Whangarei rounds.
- The Northern Advocate, 16 February 1952.
- Headline: Power cut for brief period
- The Northern Advocate, 16 February 1952.
- Headline: Young pheasants victims of storm.
- The Northern Advocate, 16 February 1952.
- Headline: 10 inches of rain since Friday, Record 15 inches for February.
- The Northern Advocate, 18 February 1952.