NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
January 1938 Hawke's Bay and Manawatu-Wanganui Storm
(
1938-01-24
)
Heavy rain caused flooding in Hawke's Bay. A six year old boy was electrocuted when he came into contact with a high-voltage wire which was brought down in the storm in New Plymouth.
North Island
Multi Hazard
at
North Island
Duration: 2 days - From the 24th to the 25th of January.
Heavy Rain
Rainfall exceeded 175 mm (17.5 cm) at several locations in Hawke's Bay and Eastern Manawatu.
Hawke's Bay
Heavy Rain
at
Hawke's Bay
There was widespread torrential rain over the whole province on the 24th and 25th.
Flooding
Ngaroruru, Tukituki and Esk Rivers were in high flood.
There was serious damage to roads and public services.
The damage to Hawkes Bay county roads was £2800 ($256,200 2009 dollars).
Electric power and telephone communications was interupted.
A number of roads were blocked by flooded rivers.
Stock losses were fairly heavy and in some instances individual farmers lost lots of 200 and 300. The number totalled a thousand or so.
Landslide
Many roads were blocked by slips and flood waters, including the Napier-Taupo State Highway and the Napier-Wairoa State Highway.
Subsidence occurred along the railway between Napier and Hastings and between Eskdale and Waipunga.
High Wind / Gust
There was extremely high wind in the morning of the 25th.
Heavy Rain
at
Eskdale
Eskdale recorded 9.00 in (22.86 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Heavy Rain
at
Hastings
Hastings recorded 9.68 in (24.59 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Flooding
Fruit crops in Hastings suffered little but the plums were damaged extensively.
Heavy Rain
at
Kereru
Kereru recorded 8.25 in (20.96 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Heavy Rain
at
Maraekakaho
Maraekakaho recorded 7.32 in (18.59 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Heavy Rain
at
Maraetotara Lodge
Maraetotara recorded 10.00 in (25.40 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Heavy Rain
at
Napier
Napier recorded 4.34 in (11.02 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Flooding
at
Ngaruroro River
Ngaruroro River was 12-13 ft (3.7-4.0 m) above normal.
Flooding
at
Pakowhai
Ngaruroro River overflowed its banks above Pakowai bridge, inundating large areas of land on both sides of river as high as the fence posts.
Two woman were marooned in a house at Pakowhai throughout the day.
Flooding
at
Tutaekuri River
Tutaekuri River rose 12 ft (3.7 m) above normal Redcliff.
Manawatu-Wanganui
High Wind / Gust
at
Palmerston North
There was an easterly gale in Palmerston North on the 24th.
A six year old boy was electrocuted when he came into contact with a high-voltage wire which was brought down in the storm.
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 30 Sep 2005
- Headline: Victim of Gale,Boy Electrocuted.
- The Wanganui Chronicle, 25 January 1938.
- Headline: Torrential Rain, Floods In Hawke's Bay.
- The Wanganui Chronicle, 26 January 1938.
January 1938 Hawke's Bay and Manawatu-Wanganui Storm
(
1938-01-24
)
Heavy rain caused flooding in Hawke's Bay. A six year old boy was electrocuted when he came into contact with a high-voltage wire which was brought down in the storm in New Plymouth.
North Island
Multi Hazard
at
North Island
Duration: 2 days - From the 24th to the 25th of January.
Heavy Rain
Rainfall exceeded 175 mm (17.5 cm) at several locations in Hawke's Bay and Eastern Manawatu.
Hawke's Bay
Heavy Rain
at
Hawke's Bay
There was widespread torrential rain over the whole province on the 24th and 25th.
Flooding
Ngaroruru, Tukituki and Esk Rivers were in high flood.
There was serious damage to roads and public services.
The damage to Hawkes Bay county roads was £2800 ($256,200 2009 dollars).
Electric power and telephone communications was interupted.
A number of roads were blocked by flooded rivers.
Stock losses were fairly heavy and in some instances individual farmers lost lots of 200 and 300. The number totalled a thousand or so.
Landslide
Many roads were blocked by slips and flood waters, including the Napier-Taupo State Highway and the Napier-Wairoa State Highway.
Subsidence occurred along the railway between Napier and Hastings and between Eskdale and Waipunga.
High Wind / Gust
There was extremely high wind in the morning of the 25th.
Heavy Rain
at
Eskdale
Eskdale recorded 9.00 in (22.86 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Heavy Rain
at
Hastings
Hastings recorded 9.68 in (24.59 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Flooding
Fruit crops in Hastings suffered little but the plums were damaged extensively.
Heavy Rain
at
Kereru
Kereru recorded 8.25 in (20.96 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Heavy Rain
at
Maraekakaho
Maraekakaho recorded 7.32 in (18.59 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Heavy Rain
at
Maraetotara Lodge
Maraetotara recorded 10.00 in (25.40 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Heavy Rain
at
Napier
Napier recorded 4.34 in (11.02 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Flooding
at
Ngaruroro River
Ngaruroro River was 12-13 ft (3.7-4.0 m) above normal.
Flooding
at
Pakowhai
Ngaruroro River overflowed its banks above Pakowai bridge, inundating large areas of land on both sides of river as high as the fence posts.
Two woman were marooned in a house at Pakowhai throughout the day.
Flooding
at
Tutaekuri River
Tutaekuri River rose 12 ft (3.7 m) above normal Redcliff.
Manawatu-Wanganui
High Wind / Gust
at
Palmerston North
There was an easterly gale in Palmerston North on the 24th.
A six year old boy was electrocuted when he came into contact with a high-voltage wire which was brought down in the storm.
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 30 Sep 2005
- Headline: Victim of Gale,Boy Electrocuted.
- The Wanganui Chronicle, 25 January 1938.
- Headline: Torrential Rain, Floods In Hawke's Bay.
- The Wanganui Chronicle, 26 January 1938.