NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
January 2003 Upper North Island Flooding ( 2003-01-04 )
Heavy rain caused flooding in parts of Northland and Waikato. A fisherman was drowned when a fishing boat capsized in rough weather in the Colville Channel.
North Island
Multi Hazard
Duration: 8 days - From the 4th to the 11th of January.
A slow moving, sub tropical front lay just north of Cape Reinga.
Heavy Rain
Rainfall totalling 100-200 mm (10.0-20.0 cm) fell throughout eastern Northland, Coromandel, Waikato and Bay of Plenty from the 4th to the 10th.
The 8th and 9th were the wettest days, on which many locations recorded 60-120 mm (6.0-12.0 cm) of rain.
Flooding
Surface flooding occurred in these regions.
High Wind / Gust
Wind was associated with the rain.
Northland
Heavy Rain
at
Bay of Islands
The Bay of Islands recorded 24 mm (2.4 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 5th.
Heavy Rain
at
Kaikohe
Kaikohe recorded 13 mm (1.3 m) of rain in 24 hours on the 5th.
Heavy Rain
at
Whangarei
Whangarei recorded 9 mm (0.9 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 5th.
Waikato
Flooding
at
Waikato
There was persistant and at times heavy rain from the 8th to the 11th.
There were ten weather warnings released from the MetService.
There were numerous road closures including SH25 at Hikuai, Whitianga and Manaia.
Washouts occurred in Coromandel holiday parks, disrupting the plans of many campers.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Colville Channel
A fisherman, aged 39 years, was drowned when a fishing boat capsized in rough weather in the Colville Channel on the 8th. The skipper had set out in deteriorating weather with waves of up to 3 m and winds of 49 knots (91 km/hr).
Heavy Rain
at
Golden Cross
Golden Cross recorded 333 mm (33.3 cm) of rain in three days from the 9th to the 11th (this was over 152 percent of the January mean rainfall).
Heavy Rain
at
Hamilton
Hamilton recorded 71 mm (7.1 cm) of rain in three days from the 9th to the 11th.
Flooding
Waikato River had a peak discharge of 342 cumecs at Hamilton with a peak level of 13.36 m.
Heavy Rain
at
Kaimai
Kaimai recorded 205 mm (20.5 cm) of rain in three days from the 9th to the 11th (this was over 83 percent of the January mean rainfall).
Flooding
at
Kauaeranga River
Kauaeranga River had a peak discharge of 363 cumecs and a peak level of 9.41 m.
Heavy Rain
at
Mangatangi
Mangatangi recorded 113 mm (11.3 cm) of rain in three days from the 9th to the 11th.
Heavy Rain
at
Maukoro Landing
Maukoro Landing recorded 69 mm (6.9 cm) of rain in three days from the 9th to the 11th.
Heavy Rain
at
Maungakawa
Maungakawa recorded 56 mm (5.6 cm) of rain in three days from the 9th to the 11th.
Flooding
at
Ngaruawahia
Waikato River had a peak discharge of 463 cumecs at Ngaruawahia with a peak level of 10.25 m.
Flooding
at
Ohinemuri River
Ohinemuri River had a peak discharge of 334 cumecs and a peak level of 15.15 m.
Flooding
at
Okauia
Waihou River had a peak discharge of 46.21 cumecs at Okauia with a peak level of 29.94 m.
Flooding
at
Shaftesbury
Waihou River had a peak discharge of 213 cumecs at Shaftesbury with a peak level of 17.45 m.
Flooding
at
Tairua River
Tairua River had a peak discharge of 252 cumecs and a peak level of 3.77 m.
Flooding
at
Tararu
There was in-filling of the stream channel at Tararu.
Heavy Rain
at
Te Aroha
Te Aroha recorded 137 mm (13.7 cm) of rain in three days from the 9th to the 11th.
Flooding
Waihou River had a peak discharge of 238 cumecs at Te Aroha with a peak level of 10.88 m.
Heavy Rain
at
The Pinnacles
Pinnacles recorded 91.5 mm (9.15 cm) of rain in six hours.
Pinnacles recorded 155 mm (15.5 cm) of rain in 12 hours.
Pinnacles recorded 290.5 mm (29.05 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Pinnacles recorded 471.5 mm (47.15 cm) of rain in 48 hours (which has a return period of 30 years).
Pinnacles recorded 526.5 mm (52.65 cm) of rain in 72 hours (which has a return period of 30 years).
Pinnacles recorded 497 mm (49.7 cm) of rain in three days from the 9th to the 11th (this was over 162 percent of the January mean rainfall).
Flooding
at
Tirohia
Waihou River had a peak discharge of 186 cumecs at Tirohia with a peak level of 5.03 m.
Flooding
at
Whatawhata
Waipa River had a peak discharge of 188 cumecs at Whatawhata with a peak level of 12.74 m.
Flooding
at
Whitianga
A few houses flooded near Whitianga.
References
- Major weather events in New Zealand, Floods and High Rainfall, Floods to 30 Sept 2005.
- Environment Waikato Flood Document (CD)
- Headline: Rain falls on forecasters' predictions.
- The Northern Advocate, 6 January 2003.
- Headline: Fishing boat sailed into gale, jury told.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 16 February 2008.
January 2003 Upper North Island Flooding ( 2003-01-04 )
Heavy rain caused flooding in parts of Northland and Waikato. A fisherman was drowned when a fishing boat capsized in rough weather in the Colville Channel.
North Island
Multi Hazard
Duration: 8 days - From the 4th to the 11th of January.
A slow moving, sub tropical front lay just north of Cape Reinga.
Heavy Rain
Rainfall totalling 100-200 mm (10.0-20.0 cm) fell throughout eastern Northland, Coromandel, Waikato and Bay of Plenty from the 4th to the 10th.
The 8th and 9th were the wettest days, on which many locations recorded 60-120 mm (6.0-12.0 cm) of rain.
Flooding
Surface flooding occurred in these regions.
High Wind / Gust
Wind was associated with the rain.
Northland
Heavy Rain
at
Bay of Islands
The Bay of Islands recorded 24 mm (2.4 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 5th.
Heavy Rain
at
Kaikohe
Kaikohe recorded 13 mm (1.3 m) of rain in 24 hours on the 5th.
Heavy Rain
at
Whangarei
Whangarei recorded 9 mm (0.9 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 5th.
Waikato
Flooding
at
Waikato
There was persistant and at times heavy rain from the 8th to the 11th.
There were ten weather warnings released from the MetService.
There were numerous road closures including SH25 at Hikuai, Whitianga and Manaia.
Washouts occurred in Coromandel holiday parks, disrupting the plans of many campers.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Colville Channel
A fisherman, aged 39 years, was drowned when a fishing boat capsized in rough weather in the Colville Channel on the 8th. The skipper had set out in deteriorating weather with waves of up to 3 m and winds of 49 knots (91 km/hr).
Heavy Rain
at
Golden Cross
Golden Cross recorded 333 mm (33.3 cm) of rain in three days from the 9th to the 11th (this was over 152 percent of the January mean rainfall).
Heavy Rain
at
Hamilton
Hamilton recorded 71 mm (7.1 cm) of rain in three days from the 9th to the 11th.
Flooding
Waikato River had a peak discharge of 342 cumecs at Hamilton with a peak level of 13.36 m.
Heavy Rain
at
Kaimai
Kaimai recorded 205 mm (20.5 cm) of rain in three days from the 9th to the 11th (this was over 83 percent of the January mean rainfall).
Flooding
at
Kauaeranga River
Kauaeranga River had a peak discharge of 363 cumecs and a peak level of 9.41 m.
Heavy Rain
at
Mangatangi
Mangatangi recorded 113 mm (11.3 cm) of rain in three days from the 9th to the 11th.
Heavy Rain
at
Maukoro Landing
Maukoro Landing recorded 69 mm (6.9 cm) of rain in three days from the 9th to the 11th.
Heavy Rain
at
Maungakawa
Maungakawa recorded 56 mm (5.6 cm) of rain in three days from the 9th to the 11th.
Flooding
at
Ngaruawahia
Waikato River had a peak discharge of 463 cumecs at Ngaruawahia with a peak level of 10.25 m.
Flooding
at
Ohinemuri River
Ohinemuri River had a peak discharge of 334 cumecs and a peak level of 15.15 m.
Flooding
at
Okauia
Waihou River had a peak discharge of 46.21 cumecs at Okauia with a peak level of 29.94 m.
Flooding
at
Shaftesbury
Waihou River had a peak discharge of 213 cumecs at Shaftesbury with a peak level of 17.45 m.
Flooding
at
Tairua River
Tairua River had a peak discharge of 252 cumecs and a peak level of 3.77 m.
Flooding
at
Tararu
There was in-filling of the stream channel at Tararu.
Heavy Rain
at
Te Aroha
Te Aroha recorded 137 mm (13.7 cm) of rain in three days from the 9th to the 11th.
Flooding
Waihou River had a peak discharge of 238 cumecs at Te Aroha with a peak level of 10.88 m.
Heavy Rain
at
The Pinnacles
Pinnacles recorded 91.5 mm (9.15 cm) of rain in six hours.
Pinnacles recorded 155 mm (15.5 cm) of rain in 12 hours.
Pinnacles recorded 290.5 mm (29.05 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Pinnacles recorded 471.5 mm (47.15 cm) of rain in 48 hours (which has a return period of 30 years).
Pinnacles recorded 526.5 mm (52.65 cm) of rain in 72 hours (which has a return period of 30 years).
Pinnacles recorded 497 mm (49.7 cm) of rain in three days from the 9th to the 11th (this was over 162 percent of the January mean rainfall).
Flooding
at
Tirohia
Waihou River had a peak discharge of 186 cumecs at Tirohia with a peak level of 5.03 m.
Flooding
at
Whatawhata
Waipa River had a peak discharge of 188 cumecs at Whatawhata with a peak level of 12.74 m.
Flooding
at
Whitianga
A few houses flooded near Whitianga.
References
- Major weather events in New Zealand, Floods and High Rainfall, Floods to 30 Sept 2005.
- Environment Waikato Flood Document (CD)
- Headline: Rain falls on forecasters' predictions.
- The Northern Advocate, 6 January 2003.
- Headline: Fishing boat sailed into gale, jury told.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 16 February 2008.