NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue

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February 2018 Ex Tropical Cyclone Fehi ( 2018-02-01 )

Ex-tropical cyclone Fehi moved into the North Tasman Sea, and then combined with a trough moving in from the southwest. The storm crossed New Zealand, causing extensive damage due to wind, rain and coastal storm surges. The West Coast of the South Island was badly affected by the wind and rain, and the Nelson area was affected by storm surges.

New Zealand

Multi HazardMulti Hazard at New Zealand
Duration:   2  days - From the 1st to 2nd of February.
Comments:

Insurance ClaimInsurance claims totalled $45.9 million.

Declared EmergencyStates of Emergency were declared in the Buller district, and Dunedin.

CommentMetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 8:13 pm Wednesday 31-Jan-2018. Major storm expected to hit the South Island with significant heavy rain and strong winds for much of the South Island, also for the lower parts of the North Island. A front is moving across the lower South Island this evening. A major storm (former Tropical Cyclone Fehi) is approaching from the north tonight, and it is forecast to cross the South Island during Thursday. It should then move away to the southeast on Friday. This storm will bring significant heavy rain and possible damaging winds to much of the South Island and parts of the lower North Island from late Wednesday to early Friday.

CommentMetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING Issued by MetService at 9:27 pm Thursday 01-Feb-2018 Heavy rain for the west coast of the South Island and central parts of the North Island easing Friday morning. Severe gales for much of the country have eased. A major storm (former Tropical Cyclone Fehi) affecting the country is weakening overnight tonight and Friday morning, meanwhile its associated front move east across the North Island. This storm and front should bring further periods of heavy rain to the northwest of the South Island and the central areas of the North Island till Friday morning.

CommentMetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 10:14 am Friday 02-Feb-2018 Heavy rain for the west coast of the South Island and central parts of the North Island has now eased

West Coast

Multi HazardMulti Hazard at West Coast
Comments:

EvacueesDozens of homes in low-lying areas such as Ngakawau, Hector and Granity were evacuated.

Affected LifelineStrong winds and falling trees closed State Highway 6 between Haast and Makarora, and Westport and Rapahoe.

Multi HazardMulti Hazard at Granity
Map Location: -41.629861 171.846247
Comments:

EvacueesProperties at Granity were inundated with seawater, and some residents evacuated to Westport.

Multi HazardMulti Hazard at Westport
Map Location: -41.750212 171.582563
Comments:

EvacueesParts of Westport were also inundated with seawater, and some houses and a high school were evacuated.

EvacueesNine palliative and aged care patients were evacuated from the Dunsford Aged Residential Care ward at Westport Hospital.

LandslideLandslide at Fox Glacier
Map Location: -41.750212 171.582563
Comments:

Affected LifelineAbout 115 people were stuck in their vehicles due to slips near Fox Glacier.

Tasman-Nelson

Multi HazardMulti Hazard at Tasman-Nelson
Comments:

Comment The combination of a very low pressure system, king high tides and high winds drove a lot of water and storm surge into the head of Tasman Bay and parts of Golden Bay

Evacuees Civil Defence centres were set up at Collingwood Area School, Hill's Community Church at Mapua, and the Honest Lawyer at Monaco. About 20 to 30 people self-evacuated from Collingwood, Mapua and Ruby Bay, and people had also been evacuated from Monaco.

FloodingFlooding at Monaco
Map Location: -41.30425 173.20898
Comments:

Affected LifelineThe low-lying Monaco peninsula was cut off from the rest of the city by the floodwaters.

EvacueesThe Police used a Nelson Surf Rescue inflatable rescue boat to evacuate people from the peninsula.

Affected LifelineIncoming seawater caused the electricity transformer box to explode, blowing the roof off, leaving most of Monaco without power.

Multi HazardMulti Hazard at Golden Bay
Map Location: -40.698766 172.864683
Comments:

CommentIn Golden Bay, gale force winds caused trees to topple on roads and the high tide inundated many coastal areas.

FloodingFlooding at Nelson
Map Location: -41.268476 173.297338
Comments:

Affected LifelineFlights were delayed, cancelled or diverted at Nelson airport after a nearby stream burst its banks and flooded the airport's access road. Some of the airport's buildings were damaged.

CommentNelson's waterfront venues The Boat Shed Cafe and the Boathouse were both closed following the storm surge that forced sea water through the buildings, causing significant damage.

CommentThe first day of the Nelson Buskers Festival was cancelled due to the stormy weather.

Otago

Multi HazardMulti Hazard at Otago
Comments:

Comment Surface flooding caused problems around Dunedin city streets and in Mosgiel.

Comment Evacuation centres were set up in South Dunedin and Mosgiel, but they were later closed due to lack of demand.

Affected Lifeline There was extensive surface flooding on local roads around the Central Otago District. There were also a number of slips and rock falls on SH8 between Clyde and Cromwell and SH6 between Cromwell and Queenstown.

FloodingFlooding at Dunedin
Map Location: -45.879110 170.502707
Comments:

Evacuees Residents at the Radius Fulton Home were evacuated after torrential rain caused flooding to the rest home.

Comment Schools and early childcare centres in South Dunedin closed early because of the flooding.

Wellington

Multi HazardMulti Hazard at Wellington
Comments:

Affected Lifeline Power was cut to 3000 homes in the Wellington region because of weather-related issues

Affected Lifeline The strong winds whipped up waves that flooded highways and damaged sea walls in the region.

Comment Torrential rain caused surface flooding in many parts of Wellington, including the CBD, Seatoun, Khandallah, Mt Victoria, Brooklyn, Karori and Tawa. The Wellington Railway Station passenger underpass and interchange also flooded, as did the Ngauranga railway station subway.

High Wind GustsHigh Wind / Gust at Wellington Airport
Map Location: -41.329538 174.805351
Comments:

Affected Lifeline Flights in and out of Wellington Airport were disrupted as winds gusting more than 140kmh affected the Wellington region.

References

Meteorological Society of New Zealand (Inc.), Newsletter 152, Autumn 2018
Insurance Council of New Zealand (https://www.icnz.org.nz/natural-disasters/cost-of-natural-disasters/)
Headline: Storm hits: What you need to know.
www.odt.co.nz, 1 February 2018.
Headline: 'Never seen it like this': Homes flooded, roads closed by storm
www.stuff.co.nz, 1 February 2018.
Cyclone Gita: Flights disrupted and roads closed as high winds continue to batter Wellington.
www.stuff.co.nz, 1 February 2018.
Headline: When the storm hit Granity, the West Coast town being eaten alive.
www.stuff.co.nz, 1 February 2018.
Headline: Storm surge forces closure of Nelson's historic waterfront venues.
www.stuff.co.nz, 1 February 2018.
Headline: Local state of emergency declared, homes evacuated as heavy rain, gales thrash West Coast.
www.stuff.co.nz, 1 February 2018.
Headline: Live: The damage done by the storm.
www.stuff.co.nz, 2 February 2018.

February 2018 Ex Tropical Cyclone Fehi ( 2018-02-01 )

Ex-tropical cyclone Fehi moved into the North Tasman Sea, and then combined with a trough moving in from the southwest. The storm crossed New Zealand, causing extensive damage due to wind, rain and coastal storm surges. The West Coast of the South Island was badly affected by the wind and rain, and the Nelson area was affected by storm surges.

New Zealand

Multi HazardMulti Hazard at New Zealand
Duration:   2  days - From the 1st to 2nd of February.
Comments:

Insurance ClaimInsurance claims totalled $45.9 million.

Declared EmergencyStates of Emergency were declared in the Buller district, and Dunedin.

CommentMetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 8:13 pm Wednesday 31-Jan-2018. Major storm expected to hit the South Island with significant heavy rain and strong winds for much of the South Island, also for the lower parts of the North Island. A front is moving across the lower South Island this evening. A major storm (former Tropical Cyclone Fehi) is approaching from the north tonight, and it is forecast to cross the South Island during Thursday. It should then move away to the southeast on Friday. This storm will bring significant heavy rain and possible damaging winds to much of the South Island and parts of the lower North Island from late Wednesday to early Friday.

CommentMetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING Issued by MetService at 9:27 pm Thursday 01-Feb-2018 Heavy rain for the west coast of the South Island and central parts of the North Island easing Friday morning. Severe gales for much of the country have eased. A major storm (former Tropical Cyclone Fehi) affecting the country is weakening overnight tonight and Friday morning, meanwhile its associated front move east across the North Island. This storm and front should bring further periods of heavy rain to the northwest of the South Island and the central areas of the North Island till Friday morning.

CommentMetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 10:14 am Friday 02-Feb-2018 Heavy rain for the west coast of the South Island and central parts of the North Island has now eased

West Coast

Multi HazardMulti Hazard at West Coast
Comments:

EvacueesDozens of homes in low-lying areas such as Ngakawau, Hector and Granity were evacuated.

Affected LifelineStrong winds and falling trees closed State Highway 6 between Haast and Makarora, and Westport and Rapahoe.

Multi HazardMulti Hazard at Granity
Map Location: -41.629861 171.846247
Comments:

EvacueesProperties at Granity were inundated with seawater, and some residents evacuated to Westport.

Multi HazardMulti Hazard at Westport
Map Location: -41.750212 171.582563
Comments:

EvacueesParts of Westport were also inundated with seawater, and some houses and a high school were evacuated.

EvacueesNine palliative and aged care patients were evacuated from the Dunsford Aged Residential Care ward at Westport Hospital.

LandslideLandslide at Fox Glacier
Map Location: -41.750212 171.582563
Comments:

Affected LifelineAbout 115 people were stuck in their vehicles due to slips near Fox Glacier.

Tasman-Nelson

Multi HazardMulti Hazard at Tasman-Nelson
Comments:

Comment The combination of a very low pressure system, king high tides and high winds drove a lot of water and storm surge into the head of Tasman Bay and parts of Golden Bay

Evacuees Civil Defence centres were set up at Collingwood Area School, Hill's Community Church at Mapua, and the Honest Lawyer at Monaco. About 20 to 30 people self-evacuated from Collingwood, Mapua and Ruby Bay, and people had also been evacuated from Monaco.

FloodingFlooding at Monaco
Map Location: -41.30425 173.20898
Comments:

Affected LifelineThe low-lying Monaco peninsula was cut off from the rest of the city by the floodwaters.

EvacueesThe Police used a Nelson Surf Rescue inflatable rescue boat to evacuate people from the peninsula.

Affected LifelineIncoming seawater caused the electricity transformer box to explode, blowing the roof off, leaving most of Monaco without power.

Multi HazardMulti Hazard at Golden Bay
Map Location: -40.698766 172.864683
Comments:

CommentIn Golden Bay, gale force winds caused trees to topple on roads and the high tide inundated many coastal areas.

FloodingFlooding at Nelson
Map Location: -41.268476 173.297338
Comments:

Affected LifelineFlights were delayed, cancelled or diverted at Nelson airport after a nearby stream burst its banks and flooded the airport's access road. Some of the airport's buildings were damaged.

CommentNelson's waterfront venues The Boat Shed Cafe and the Boathouse were both closed following the storm surge that forced sea water through the buildings, causing significant damage.

CommentThe first day of the Nelson Buskers Festival was cancelled due to the stormy weather.

Otago

Multi HazardMulti Hazard at Otago
Comments:

Comment Surface flooding caused problems around Dunedin city streets and in Mosgiel.

Comment Evacuation centres were set up in South Dunedin and Mosgiel, but they were later closed due to lack of demand.

Affected Lifeline There was extensive surface flooding on local roads around the Central Otago District. There were also a number of slips and rock falls on SH8 between Clyde and Cromwell and SH6 between Cromwell and Queenstown.

FloodingFlooding at Dunedin
Map Location: -45.879110 170.502707
Comments:

Evacuees Residents at the Radius Fulton Home were evacuated after torrential rain caused flooding to the rest home.

Comment Schools and early childcare centres in South Dunedin closed early because of the flooding.

Wellington

Multi HazardMulti Hazard at Wellington
Comments:

Affected Lifeline Power was cut to 3000 homes in the Wellington region because of weather-related issues

Affected Lifeline The strong winds whipped up waves that flooded highways and damaged sea walls in the region.

Comment Torrential rain caused surface flooding in many parts of Wellington, including the CBD, Seatoun, Khandallah, Mt Victoria, Brooklyn, Karori and Tawa. The Wellington Railway Station passenger underpass and interchange also flooded, as did the Ngauranga railway station subway.

High Wind GustsHigh Wind / Gust at Wellington Airport
Map Location: -41.329538 174.805351
Comments:

Affected Lifeline Flights in and out of Wellington Airport were disrupted as winds gusting more than 140kmh affected the Wellington region.

References

Meteorological Society of New Zealand (Inc.), Newsletter 152, Autumn 2018
Insurance Council of New Zealand (https://www.icnz.org.nz/natural-disasters/cost-of-natural-disasters/)
Headline: Storm hits: What you need to know.
www.odt.co.nz, 1 February 2018.
Headline: 'Never seen it like this': Homes flooded, roads closed by storm
www.stuff.co.nz, 1 February 2018.
Cyclone Gita: Flights disrupted and roads closed as high winds continue to batter Wellington.
www.stuff.co.nz, 1 February 2018.
Headline: When the storm hit Granity, the West Coast town being eaten alive.
www.stuff.co.nz, 1 February 2018.
Headline: Storm surge forces closure of Nelson's historic waterfront venues.
www.stuff.co.nz, 1 February 2018.
Headline: Local state of emergency declared, homes evacuated as heavy rain, gales thrash West Coast.
www.stuff.co.nz, 1 February 2018.
Headline: Live: The damage done by the storm.
www.stuff.co.nz, 2 February 2018.