NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
January 1933 Tasman-Nelson and Marlborough Flooding
(
1933-01-31
)
17 years
Heavy rain caused flooding resulting in one casualty in Marlborough after a man tried to ford the Rai River while it was in flood.
Tasman-Nelson
Flooding
at
Tasman-Nelson
There were washouts and slips on the roads throughout the province.
The railway line was blocked.
Flooding
at
Appleby
Waimea River was heavily swollen at Appleby.
Flooding
at
Brightwater
At Brightwater, the Wairoa River rose very quickly and had a peak discharge of 40,000 cusecs (1133 cumecs).
Some families evacuated their homes for a period.
The flood was considered to be the heaviest since 1916.
There was water over 3 ft (0.91 m) deep across the road.
Heavy Rain
at
Cawthron
The Cawthron Institute recorded 1.78 in (4.52 cm) of rain in 24 hours ending at 9:30am on the 31st.
Flooding
at
Maitai River
Maitai River was heavily flooded and rose rapidly.
There was considerable damage caused to property along the Maitai River banks.
Heavy Rain
at
Nelson
Nelson recorded 3.50 in (8.89 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Nelson reorded 5.33 in (13.54 cm) of rain in 48 hours.
Flooding
There was serious flooding with resultant widespread damage.
Parts of Nelson city flooded and Brook Stream and Maitai River overflowed.
It was the worst flood experienced for many years.
Rivers and streams were running bank high.
Cloastons Bridge across the Maitai River was swept away.
All along Brooklands was a scene of devastation.
There was a washout at Quarry Bridge.
The approach to Blick's Bridge was gone.
All along Brooklands the gas and water pipes were damaged.
Marlborough
Heavy Rain
at
Marlborough
Heavy rain brought disasterous floods to the whole district.
Flooding
Several bridges were washed away in parts of the district.
Ronga and Opouri Rivers were in flood.
There were extensive crop losses.
Flooding
at
Canvastown
Pelorus River at Canvastown was 2 ft (0.61 m) from the decking of the bridge.
The road on Rai side of Canvastown was blocked due to floodwaters.
Heavy Rain
at
Rai Valley
The damage to the Marlborough county roads was £1593 ($172,450 2009 dollars).
Rai Valley recorded 20.14 in (51.16 cm) of rain in 36 hours (which has a return period of over 150 years).
Heavy rain in this area was caused by an active front which crossed the area very slowly and was preceded by a north to northwest flow.
Flooding
Rai Valley was isolated for 36 hours.
A man drowned in his vehicle while trying to ford Rai River.
Farms were flooded.
Some stock were lost.
There were some crop losses.
Heavy Rain
at
Rainbow Homestead
Rainbow homestead recorded 3.89 in (9.88 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Rainbow homestead recorded 6.01 in (15.27 cm) of rain in 48 hours.
Flooding
at
Wairau River
Wairau River was in high flood.
References
- Cowie, C.A.: Attwood, A.K. (1957) Floods in New Zealand 1920-53, The Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand, p.239.
- NZ Met Service. (2008). Meteorology of Extreme Rainfalls in New Zealand (Mark Pascoe, Ed.).
- Headline: Severe Floods, the worst for some years.
- The Nelson Evening Mail, 01 February 1933.
- Headline: Heavy Rain.
- The Nelson Evening Mail, 31 January 1933.
January 1933 Tasman-Nelson and Marlborough Flooding
(
1933-01-31
)
17 years
Heavy rain caused flooding resulting in one casualty in Marlborough after a man tried to ford the Rai River while it was in flood.
Tasman-Nelson
Flooding
at
Tasman-Nelson
There were washouts and slips on the roads throughout the province.
The railway line was blocked.
Flooding
at
Appleby
Waimea River was heavily swollen at Appleby.
Flooding
at
Brightwater
At Brightwater, the Wairoa River rose very quickly and had a peak discharge of 40,000 cusecs (1133 cumecs).
Some families evacuated their homes for a period.
The flood was considered to be the heaviest since 1916.
There was water over 3 ft (0.91 m) deep across the road.
Heavy Rain
at
Cawthron
The Cawthron Institute recorded 1.78 in (4.52 cm) of rain in 24 hours ending at 9:30am on the 31st.
Flooding
at
Maitai River
Maitai River was heavily flooded and rose rapidly.
There was considerable damage caused to property along the Maitai River banks.
Heavy Rain
at
Nelson
Nelson recorded 3.50 in (8.89 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Nelson reorded 5.33 in (13.54 cm) of rain in 48 hours.
Flooding
There was serious flooding with resultant widespread damage.
Parts of Nelson city flooded and Brook Stream and Maitai River overflowed.
It was the worst flood experienced for many years.
Rivers and streams were running bank high.
Cloastons Bridge across the Maitai River was swept away.
All along Brooklands was a scene of devastation.
There was a washout at Quarry Bridge.
The approach to Blick's Bridge was gone.
All along Brooklands the gas and water pipes were damaged.
Marlborough
Heavy Rain
at
Marlborough
Heavy rain brought disasterous floods to the whole district.
Flooding
Several bridges were washed away in parts of the district.
Ronga and Opouri Rivers were in flood.
There were extensive crop losses.
Flooding
at
Canvastown
Pelorus River at Canvastown was 2 ft (0.61 m) from the decking of the bridge.
The road on Rai side of Canvastown was blocked due to floodwaters.
Heavy Rain
at
Rai Valley
The damage to the Marlborough county roads was £1593 ($172,450 2009 dollars).
Rai Valley recorded 20.14 in (51.16 cm) of rain in 36 hours (which has a return period of over 150 years).
Heavy rain in this area was caused by an active front which crossed the area very slowly and was preceded by a north to northwest flow.
Flooding
Rai Valley was isolated for 36 hours.
A man drowned in his vehicle while trying to ford Rai River.
Farms were flooded.
Some stock were lost.
There were some crop losses.
Heavy Rain
at
Rainbow Homestead
Rainbow homestead recorded 3.89 in (9.88 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Rainbow homestead recorded 6.01 in (15.27 cm) of rain in 48 hours.
Flooding
at
Wairau River
Wairau River was in high flood.
References
- Cowie, C.A.: Attwood, A.K. (1957) Floods in New Zealand 1920-53, The Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand, p.239.
- NZ Met Service. (2008). Meteorology of Extreme Rainfalls in New Zealand (Mark Pascoe, Ed.).
- Headline: Severe Floods, the worst for some years.
- The Nelson Evening Mail, 01 February 1933.
- Headline: Heavy Rain.
- The Nelson Evening Mail, 31 January 1933.