NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
February 1955 West Coast Flooding
(
1955-02-24
)
41 years
Slips and flooding caused severe disruption to railway services in the West Coast.
West Coast
Flooding
at
West Coast
Duration: 4 days - There was serious flooding from the 24th to the 27th of February.
The West Coast was completely inaccessible by road.
Landslide
On the Greymouth-Westport railway line there was a major slip at cascade in Buller Gorge and a smaller slip at Tiritoa.
Landslide
Along the Midland railway line to Christchurch, there was flooding between Rotomanu and Te Kinga. A major slip and washout occurred on the line near Kaimata and telephone lines were carried away. There were also slips on the line at Aratika, Aikens and Omoto.
Flooding
at
Atarau
The road between Atarau and Ikamatua was blocked by flooding between Ngahere and Blackball.
Flooding
at
Buller River
From a rating curve, the Buller River had a discharge of 303,000 cusecs (8580 cumecs) at Berlins, on the 17th. The catchment area was 2282 sq miles (5910 km^2).
From a rating curve, the Buller River had a discharge of 363,000 cusecs (10,279 cumecs) at Berlins, on the 19th The catchment area was 2282 sq miles (5910 km^2).
Flooding
at
Denniston
There was serious damage to Cascade Mine at the back of Denniston. Slips buried equipment valued at £1000 ($45,960 2009 dollars). Eleven kilometres of fluming leading to mine was also carried away.
Flooding
at
Gladstone
The road from Greymouth to Hokitika was closed by flooding near Gladstone.
Flooding
at
Grey River
Grey River rose swiftly.
Grey River had a discharge of 250,000 cusecs (7079 cumecs).
At Brunner Gorge, Grey River peaked twice within the one week, to 18 in (0.46 m) below the wharf deck.
Heavy Rain
at
Greymouth
Greymouth recorded 4.58 in (11.63 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Flooding
Grey River rose to 30 cm below the Greymouth wharf.
The peak flow of the Grey River was 5 metres per second on the 27th.
Several properies and the hotel cellars were flooded.
Roads and rail routes in all directions from Greymouth were cut by flooding, washouts and slips.
Flooding
at
Hokitika
There was heavy flooding and washouts on the Hokitika railway line between Gladstone and Camerons. There was flooding on the railway line at Arahura and Houhou.
All train services between Greymouth and Hokitika were cancelled.
Flooding
at
Karamea River
Using slope area measurement, Karamea River was in its largest flood since 1914 with a discharge of 79,700 cusecs (2257 cumecs) and a catchment area of 632 sq miles (1637 km^2).
Flooding
at
Kumara
All roads in the Mitchells-Greenstone-Kumara area were closed.
Flooding
at
New River
New River burst its banks on the 25th.
New River overtopped road and rail bridges flooding nearby farmland and Camerons Settlement. Flood water occupied houses for 12 hours.
Bridges leading to Ogilvies Sawmill were destroyed or damaged.
The overflow from New River cut a chasm three metres deep and six metres wide down the beach road.
Flooding
at
Reefton
The Inangahua River was two feet (0.61 m) higher at Reefton than the flood of 1950.
Heavy Rain
at
Rewanui
Rewanui recorded 6.65 in (16.89 cm) of rain fell in 24 hours.
Flooding
Flooding on the Rewanui railway line delayed service.
Flooding
at
Westport
Westport suffered bad surface flooding to a depth of 60 cm.
Road and rail routes were severly impaired, large areas of roading across were badly damaged.
All train services between Westport and Reefton were suspended.
References
- Ben, J.L. (1990). A Chronology of Flooding on the West Coast, South Island, New Zealand 1846-1990.
- 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 31st July 2006
- Headline: Coast Flood Again Cut Road, Rail Routes.
- The Greymouth evening Star, 26 February 1955.
February 1955 West Coast Flooding
(
1955-02-24
)
41 years
Slips and flooding caused severe disruption to railway services in the West Coast.
West Coast
Flooding
at
West Coast
Duration: 4 days - There was serious flooding from the 24th to the 27th of February.
The West Coast was completely inaccessible by road.
Landslide
On the Greymouth-Westport railway line there was a major slip at cascade in Buller Gorge and a smaller slip at Tiritoa.
Landslide
Along the Midland railway line to Christchurch, there was flooding between Rotomanu and Te Kinga. A major slip and washout occurred on the line near Kaimata and telephone lines were carried away. There were also slips on the line at Aratika, Aikens and Omoto.
Flooding
at
Atarau
The road between Atarau and Ikamatua was blocked by flooding between Ngahere and Blackball.
Flooding
at
Buller River
From a rating curve, the Buller River had a discharge of 303,000 cusecs (8580 cumecs) at Berlins, on the 17th. The catchment area was 2282 sq miles (5910 km^2).
From a rating curve, the Buller River had a discharge of 363,000 cusecs (10,279 cumecs) at Berlins, on the 19th The catchment area was 2282 sq miles (5910 km^2).
Flooding
at
Denniston
There was serious damage to Cascade Mine at the back of Denniston. Slips buried equipment valued at £1000 ($45,960 2009 dollars). Eleven kilometres of fluming leading to mine was also carried away.
Flooding
at
Gladstone
The road from Greymouth to Hokitika was closed by flooding near Gladstone.
Flooding
at
Grey River
Grey River rose swiftly.
Grey River had a discharge of 250,000 cusecs (7079 cumecs).
At Brunner Gorge, Grey River peaked twice within the one week, to 18 in (0.46 m) below the wharf deck.
Heavy Rain
at
Greymouth
Greymouth recorded 4.58 in (11.63 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Flooding
Grey River rose to 30 cm below the Greymouth wharf.
The peak flow of the Grey River was 5 metres per second on the 27th.
Several properies and the hotel cellars were flooded.
Roads and rail routes in all directions from Greymouth were cut by flooding, washouts and slips.
Flooding
at
Hokitika
There was heavy flooding and washouts on the Hokitika railway line between Gladstone and Camerons. There was flooding on the railway line at Arahura and Houhou.
All train services between Greymouth and Hokitika were cancelled.
Flooding
at
Karamea River
Using slope area measurement, Karamea River was in its largest flood since 1914 with a discharge of 79,700 cusecs (2257 cumecs) and a catchment area of 632 sq miles (1637 km^2).
Flooding
at
Kumara
All roads in the Mitchells-Greenstone-Kumara area were closed.
Flooding
at
New River
New River burst its banks on the 25th.
New River overtopped road and rail bridges flooding nearby farmland and Camerons Settlement. Flood water occupied houses for 12 hours.
Bridges leading to Ogilvies Sawmill were destroyed or damaged.
The overflow from New River cut a chasm three metres deep and six metres wide down the beach road.
Flooding
at
Reefton
The Inangahua River was two feet (0.61 m) higher at Reefton than the flood of 1950.
Heavy Rain
at
Rewanui
Rewanui recorded 6.65 in (16.89 cm) of rain fell in 24 hours.
Flooding
Flooding on the Rewanui railway line delayed service.
Flooding
at
Westport
Westport suffered bad surface flooding to a depth of 60 cm.
Road and rail routes were severly impaired, large areas of roading across were badly damaged.
All train services between Westport and Reefton were suspended.
References
- Ben, J.L. (1990). A Chronology of Flooding on the West Coast, South Island, New Zealand 1846-1990.
- 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 31st July 2006
- Headline: Coast Flood Again Cut Road, Rail Routes.
- The Greymouth evening Star, 26 February 1955.