NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
January 1994 South Island Flooding
(
1994-01-08
)
15-50 years
Heavy rain and flooding occurred in parts of the West Coast, Canterbury, Otago and Southland. Civil Defence Emergencies were declared for Mount Cook, Alexandra and Te Anau. Roads were damaged, and thousands of stock were drowned in Otago.
South Island
Multi Hazard
at
South Island
Duration: 3 days - From the 8th to the 10th of January.
North-westerly conditions were experienced in the South Island.
Heavy Rain
Widespread heavy rain fell throughout the Southern Alps.
Severe damage occurred in alpine regions in Otago, Canterbury and Westland.
Flooding
Bridges were washed away on State Highway 6 between Haast and Hawea.
West Coast
Flooding
at
Arnold River
The Arnold River at Lake Brunner reached a peak level of 4.528 m on the 10th.
The Arnold River at Lake Brunner had a peak flow of 343 cumecs on the 10th.
Heavy Rain
at
Collier Creek
Colliers Creek recorded daily totals for seven days prior to the event of: 277 mm, 424 mm, 77 mm, 0 mm, 64 mm, 126 mm, and 17 mm.
Colliers Creek recorded a maximum intensity of 40 mm (4.0 cm) - the highest one hour rainfall intensity recorded in the 48 hours prior to event peak.
Flooding
The Hokitika River at Colliers Creek reached a peak level of 7.121 m on the 9th (Return Period approximately 50 years).
The Hokitika River at Colliers Creek had a peak flow of 2447 cumecs on the 9th.
Heavy Rain
at
Cropp River
Cropp recorded daily totals for seven days prior to the event of: 380 mm, 95 mm, 0 mm, 90 mm, 129 mm, 39 mm, and 44 mm.
Cropp recorded a maximum intensity of 47 mm (4.7 cm) - the highest one hour rainfall intensity recorded in the 48 hours prior to event peak.
Heavy Rain
at
Franz Josef
Franz Josef Glacier township recorded 389 mm (38.9 cm) of rain from the 8th to the 10th.
Heavy Rain
at
The Roaring Billy
The Haast River at Roaring Billy recorded a maximum one-hour fall of 45 mm (4.5 cm) on the 9th.
Flooding
at
Waiho River
The largest flood event in the Waiho River, based on the Whataroa record, occurred on the 9th.
Flooding
at
Whataroa River
The Whataroa River at the SH Bridge had a peak flow of 3952 cumecs on the 9th.
Canterbury
Flooding
at
Canterbury
State highways over the Rakaia and Rangitata were closed by flooding.
The highest recorded flows occurred at Waitaki River tributaries, the Rangitata River and the Rakaia River.
Multi Hazard
at
Mount Cook
A Civil Defence emergency was declared for Mount Cook at 3:45pm on the 9th and was terminated at 8:35am on the 11th.
150 people were evacuated.
Flooding
at
Rakaia Gorge
The Rakaia River at the gorge peaked at 5590 cumecs at midnight on the 9th.
Flooding
at
Rakaia River
The Rakaia River had a peak flow of 5594 cumecs.
Otago
Flooding
at
Otago
Serious flooding occurred in the Queenstown-Lakes district when streams burst their banks.
In the Queenstown-Lakes district, about 2000 sheep and an unknown amount of cattle were lost, mainly in the Makarora area.
40 properties were affected in the Makarora, Mt Aspiring, Glenorchy, and Wanaka areas.
Multi Hazard
Damage to the Milford Sound and Haast highways (State Highway 94 and State Highway 6) was estimated at $4.5 million ($6,400,000 2008 dollars).
Flooding
at
Alexandra
A Civil Defence Emergency was declared for Alexandra at 9:00am on the 10th and was terminated at 9:30am on the 12th.
Four families were evacuated on the 9th due to flood waters from the Clutha and Manuherikia Rivers.
Flood waters from the Clutha River swamped the town's borefield and shut down water pumps.
Roads were damaged.
3000 campers from two of Alexandra's holiday parks were encouraged to leave.
The Clutha River rose to a 15-year peak.
The Clutha River at the bridge peaked at 138.9 m above sea level on the 10th.
2000 sheep were lost.
State Highway damage totalled $9,700,000 ($13,800,000 2008 dollars).
Damage to DOC property totalled over $1,000,000 ($1,400,000 2008 dollars).
Flooding
at
Clyde
The Clutha River at the Clyde Dam had a peak flow of 2373 cumecs on the 10th.
Flooding
at
Glenorchy
About 400 people were evacuated by boat back to Queenstown.
Flooding
at
Lake Wanaka
Paddocks alongside Lake Wanaka were flooded.
Flooding
at
Makarora
In the Makarora area sheep were drowned after being washed away or as paddocks in low-lying areas flooded.
Heavy Rain
at
Minaret Bay
Minaret Bay recorded 165 mm (16.5 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 8th.
Heavy Rain
at
Mount Aspiring atation
Mount Aspiring station recorded 201.5 mm (20.2 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 8am on the 9th.
Mount Aspiring station recorded 260 mm (26.0 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 12pm on the 9th.
Landslide
A mudslide about 1 m deep and 200 m wide blocked the Mount Aspiring Road on the 10th.
Flooding
at
Queenstown
Queenstown lakeside areas were flooded extensively.
Southland
Landslide
at
Southland
Slips occurred on State Highway 94 between Te Anau and Milford Sound.
Flooding
at
Te Anau
A Civil Defence Emergency was declared for Te Anau at 8:30pm on the 8th and was terminated at 9:00pm on the 10th.
Flooding
at
Milford Sound
572 people were evacuated from Milford and Mt Cook. 272 people were evacuated from the Milford Track, Milford Lodge and Milford Sound, and 63 people from on board the 'Milford Wanderer'.
References
- Headline: Civil Defence declaration since 1 January 1963.
- Declared Civil Defence Emergencies.
- Goodsell, B.; Anderson, B.; Lawson, W.; Owens, I. (2005). Outburst flooding at Franz Josef Glacier, south Westland, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics 48: 95–104.
- Major weather events in New Zealand, Floods and High Rainfall, to 31st May 2006.
- McKerchar, A.; Smith, E. (2004). Canterbury Region Flood: 7-9 January 1994, Report No. U04/98. Environment Canterbury.
- Milligan, A. (2002). Waiho River Flooding Assessment for Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management, August 2002. Report 80295/2. Optimx Ltd., Wellington. 51 p.
- Headline: Emergency in Alexandra: Heavy flooding continues to wreack havoc in district.
- Otago Daily Times, 11 January 1994.
- Headline: Farmers count losses in Queenstown-Lakes area.
- Otago Daily Times, 11 January 1994.
- Headline: Four houses under water.
- Otago Daily Times, 11 January 1994.
- Headline: River 1.9m above 1994 flood level.
- Otago Daily Times, 16 December 1995.
- Headline: Clutha River flood at Alexandra largest on record, authorities say.
- Otago Daily Times, 18 January 1994.
- Headline: River flow.
- The Press, 27 January 1994.
- Headline: Big-river flood haunts a city.
- The Press, 22 September 1995.
- Southland Regional Council (CD).
January 1994 South Island Flooding
(
1994-01-08
)
15-50 years
Heavy rain and flooding occurred in parts of the West Coast, Canterbury, Otago and Southland. Civil Defence Emergencies were declared for Mount Cook, Alexandra and Te Anau. Roads were damaged, and thousands of stock were drowned in Otago.
South Island
Multi Hazard
at
South Island
Duration: 3 days - From the 8th to the 10th of January.
North-westerly conditions were experienced in the South Island.
Heavy Rain
Widespread heavy rain fell throughout the Southern Alps.
Severe damage occurred in alpine regions in Otago, Canterbury and Westland.
Flooding
Bridges were washed away on State Highway 6 between Haast and Hawea.
West Coast
Flooding
at
Arnold River
The Arnold River at Lake Brunner reached a peak level of 4.528 m on the 10th.
The Arnold River at Lake Brunner had a peak flow of 343 cumecs on the 10th.
Heavy Rain
at
Collier Creek
Colliers Creek recorded daily totals for seven days prior to the event of: 277 mm, 424 mm, 77 mm, 0 mm, 64 mm, 126 mm, and 17 mm.
Colliers Creek recorded a maximum intensity of 40 mm (4.0 cm) - the highest one hour rainfall intensity recorded in the 48 hours prior to event peak.
Flooding
The Hokitika River at Colliers Creek reached a peak level of 7.121 m on the 9th (Return Period approximately 50 years).
The Hokitika River at Colliers Creek had a peak flow of 2447 cumecs on the 9th.
Heavy Rain
at
Cropp River
Cropp recorded daily totals for seven days prior to the event of: 380 mm, 95 mm, 0 mm, 90 mm, 129 mm, 39 mm, and 44 mm.
Cropp recorded a maximum intensity of 47 mm (4.7 cm) - the highest one hour rainfall intensity recorded in the 48 hours prior to event peak.
Heavy Rain
at
Franz Josef
Franz Josef Glacier township recorded 389 mm (38.9 cm) of rain from the 8th to the 10th.
Heavy Rain
at
The Roaring Billy
The Haast River at Roaring Billy recorded a maximum one-hour fall of 45 mm (4.5 cm) on the 9th.
Flooding
at
Waiho River
The largest flood event in the Waiho River, based on the Whataroa record, occurred on the 9th.
Flooding
at
Whataroa River
The Whataroa River at the SH Bridge had a peak flow of 3952 cumecs on the 9th.
Canterbury
Flooding
at
Canterbury
State highways over the Rakaia and Rangitata were closed by flooding.
The highest recorded flows occurred at Waitaki River tributaries, the Rangitata River and the Rakaia River.
Multi Hazard
at
Mount Cook
A Civil Defence emergency was declared for Mount Cook at 3:45pm on the 9th and was terminated at 8:35am on the 11th.
150 people were evacuated.
Flooding
at
Rakaia Gorge
The Rakaia River at the gorge peaked at 5590 cumecs at midnight on the 9th.
Flooding
at
Rakaia River
The Rakaia River had a peak flow of 5594 cumecs.
Otago
Flooding
at
Otago
Serious flooding occurred in the Queenstown-Lakes district when streams burst their banks.
In the Queenstown-Lakes district, about 2000 sheep and an unknown amount of cattle were lost, mainly in the Makarora area.
40 properties were affected in the Makarora, Mt Aspiring, Glenorchy, and Wanaka areas.
Multi Hazard
Damage to the Milford Sound and Haast highways (State Highway 94 and State Highway 6) was estimated at $4.5 million ($6,400,000 2008 dollars).
Flooding
at
Alexandra
A Civil Defence Emergency was declared for Alexandra at 9:00am on the 10th and was terminated at 9:30am on the 12th.
Four families were evacuated on the 9th due to flood waters from the Clutha and Manuherikia Rivers.
Flood waters from the Clutha River swamped the town's borefield and shut down water pumps.
Roads were damaged.
3000 campers from two of Alexandra's holiday parks were encouraged to leave.
The Clutha River rose to a 15-year peak.
The Clutha River at the bridge peaked at 138.9 m above sea level on the 10th.
2000 sheep were lost.
State Highway damage totalled $9,700,000 ($13,800,000 2008 dollars).
Damage to DOC property totalled over $1,000,000 ($1,400,000 2008 dollars).
Flooding
at
Clyde
The Clutha River at the Clyde Dam had a peak flow of 2373 cumecs on the 10th.
Flooding
at
Glenorchy
About 400 people were evacuated by boat back to Queenstown.
Flooding
at
Lake Wanaka
Paddocks alongside Lake Wanaka were flooded.
Flooding
at
Makarora
In the Makarora area sheep were drowned after being washed away or as paddocks in low-lying areas flooded.
Heavy Rain
at
Minaret Bay
Minaret Bay recorded 165 mm (16.5 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 8th.
Heavy Rain
at
Mount Aspiring atation
Mount Aspiring station recorded 201.5 mm (20.2 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 8am on the 9th.
Mount Aspiring station recorded 260 mm (26.0 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 12pm on the 9th.
Landslide
A mudslide about 1 m deep and 200 m wide blocked the Mount Aspiring Road on the 10th.
Flooding
at
Queenstown
Queenstown lakeside areas were flooded extensively.
Southland
Landslide
at
Southland
Slips occurred on State Highway 94 between Te Anau and Milford Sound.
Flooding
at
Te Anau
A Civil Defence Emergency was declared for Te Anau at 8:30pm on the 8th and was terminated at 9:00pm on the 10th.
Flooding
at
Milford Sound
572 people were evacuated from Milford and Mt Cook. 272 people were evacuated from the Milford Track, Milford Lodge and Milford Sound, and 63 people from on board the 'Milford Wanderer'.
References
- Headline: Civil Defence declaration since 1 January 1963.
- Declared Civil Defence Emergencies.
- Goodsell, B.; Anderson, B.; Lawson, W.; Owens, I. (2005). Outburst flooding at Franz Josef Glacier, south Westland, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics 48: 95–104.
- Major weather events in New Zealand, Floods and High Rainfall, to 31st May 2006.
- McKerchar, A.; Smith, E. (2004). Canterbury Region Flood: 7-9 January 1994, Report No. U04/98. Environment Canterbury.
- Milligan, A. (2002). Waiho River Flooding Assessment for Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management, August 2002. Report 80295/2. Optimx Ltd., Wellington. 51 p.
- Headline: Emergency in Alexandra: Heavy flooding continues to wreack havoc in district.
- Otago Daily Times, 11 January 1994.
- Headline: Farmers count losses in Queenstown-Lakes area.
- Otago Daily Times, 11 January 1994.
- Headline: Four houses under water.
- Otago Daily Times, 11 January 1994.
- Headline: River 1.9m above 1994 flood level.
- Otago Daily Times, 16 December 1995.
- Headline: Clutha River flood at Alexandra largest on record, authorities say.
- Otago Daily Times, 18 January 1994.
- Headline: River flow.
- The Press, 27 January 1994.
- Headline: Big-river flood haunts a city.
- The Press, 22 September 1995.
- Southland Regional Council (CD).