NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
January 2006 North Island Storm
(
2006-01-23
)
High winds, heavy rain flooding and high seas were experienced in the upper North Island and Wellington, causing power cuts and road accidents. A truck driver was seriously injured on an Auckland motorway.
North Island
Multi Hazard
at
North Island
Duration: 3 days - From the 23rd to the 25th of January.
On the 23rd, a high pressure system moved east, leaving a northerly flow that brought tropical rain clouds and a low pressure system that had been lying in the Pacific Islands. The low deepened on the 24th, bringing high winds and heavy rain to the North Island.
Most of the destruction occurred between Mangawhai (Northland) and South Auckland.
Thousands of householders lost power as severe weather crossed the North Island. Throughout the day on the 24th, about 37,000 residential customers experienced power cuts. About 17,000 consumers were still without power as night fell. On the 25th power had been restored to all but a few customers.
Emergency services had to deal with arcing powerlines, fallen trees, sinking yachts and trapped motorists. Extra emergency staff were called in to help in some areas. The Fire Service received more than 250 weather-related emergency calls on the 24th, many about powerlines and trees falling on homes or roads, and dozens about lifting roof tiles and building panels. By 3pm the Fire Communications Centre was forced to prioritise calls.
In the five hours from 1pm to 6pm, police at the Northern Communications Centre received 157 calls about blocked roads and 88 calls about vehicle accidents.
Heavy Rain
Many areas received at least 50 mm (5.0 cm) of rain. Parts of Northland, Auckland, Coromandel and Bay of Plenty had received 40-60 mm (4.0-6.0 cm) of rain by 7pm on the 24th, and there was two or three times more than that in the surrounding hills. These regions had from between a third and a whole month’s worth of rain in a single day.
Northland
Multi Hazard
at
Northland
Power cuts were experienced in Northland.
High Wind / Gust
at
Mangawhai
Roofs were lifted in Mangawhai.
Heavy Rain
at
Kaeo
Kaeo recorded 90 mm (9.0 cm) of rain from the 23rd to 2:30pm on the 24th.
Heavy Rain
at
Kaikohe
The Kaikohe area recorded 87 mm (8.7 cm) of rain from the 23rd to 2:30pm on the 24th.
Heavy Rain
at
Kerikeri
Kerikeri recorded 103 mm (10.3 cm) of rain from the 23rd to 2:30pm on the 24th.
Heavy Rain
at
Puhipuhi
Puhipuhi recorded 148 mm (14.8 cm) of rain from the 23rd to 2:30pm on the 24th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Ruakaka
The living room windows were blown out of an elderly man’s house in Ruakaka.
Heavy Rain
at
Whangarei
Whangarei recorded 104 mm (10.4 cm) of rain in 22.5 hours from 8pm on the 23rd to 2:30pm on the 24th.
Whangarei recorded 106 mm (10.6 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 24th.
Auckland
Multi Hazard
at
Auckland
Heavy rain and wind on the roads created extremely bad conditions on the 24th. Motorists and emergency services were delayed in several areas by fallen debris.
North Shore, Mount Eden and Newmarket were among the areas worst affected.
High Wind / Gust
Auckland experienced gale-force easterly winds on the 24th.
Trees came down around Auckland, blocking roads and hitting homes.
Powerlines came down throughout the Auckland region, causing electrical arcing and cutting power from Wellsford to Coatesville. There were power cuts in the areas of Helensville, Coatesville, New Lynn, Henderson, Piha, Northcote/Birkdale, Waiheke Island, Bucklands Beach and Whitford.
Throughout Auckland, roof tiles and sheets of iron came loose, some flapping in the wind and some crashing to the ground.
Some of the Rodney District Council's wastewater pump stations were unable to pump sewage on the 24th because of the power outages.
Flooding
Surface flooding occurred in the North Shore.
High Wind / Gust
at
Auckland City
The Sky Tower recorded an average wind speed of 130 km/hr on the 24th.
The Sky Tower recorded a peak wind speed of 150 km/hr on the 24th.
Heavy Rain
at
Auckland International Airport
Auckland Airport recorded 43 mm (4.3 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 24th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Greenhithe
A water tanker rolled down a hill in Greenhithe and crashed into the side of a house.
High Wind / Gust
at
Hauraki
A door was blown out of a home in Hauraki.
High Wind / Gust
at
Henderson
Blackouts were reported in Henderson.
High Wind / Gust
at
Lincoln
A truck driver was seriously injured after his truck crashed into the centre barrier on the Northwestern Motorway, just before the Lincoln Road off ramp, at 12:20pm on the 24th. The driver had to be cut from the truck.
The motorway was subsequently closed westbound from Te Atatu to Lincoln Road.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Matheson Bay
Two people were tipped out of their dinghy after trying to secure a boat in Matheson Bay, but they managed to climb to safety.
High Wind / Gust
at
New Lynn
In New Lyn, fallen branches caused an explosion on a powerline.
Flooding
at
Orewa
Surface flooding occurred in Orewa.
High Wind / Gust
at
Ramarama
Strong winds blew a truck onto its side on the Southern Motorway near Ramarama at 1:45pm on the 24th.
Flooding
at
Remuera
Flooding occurred at several homes and at an apartment in Remuera.
Lightning
at
Riverhead
A lightning strike set trees on fire in Riverhead.
High Wind / Gust
at
Snells Beach
Firefighters had to secure a caravan that nearly blew over in Snells Beach.
High Wind / Gust
at
Waitemata Harbour
Strong winds tore several boats from their moorings in the Waitemata Harbour.
Maritime / Coastal
One yacht sank by the container terminal after coming off its mooring in huge seas, and a runabout was seen floating out at sea.
High Wind / Gust
at
Waiwera
A chimney was blown off a roof in Waiwera and the windows of another building were blown out.
A truck and a van collided at 2:15pm just south of Waiwera Bridge on State Highway 1, trapping one person and delaying motorists.
High Wind / Gust
at
Warkworth
Power cuts were experienced in Warkworth.
Flooding
Surface flooding occurred in Warkworth.
Multi Hazard
at
Wellsford
Power cuts were experienced in Wellsford.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Whangaparaoa
Four people had to be rescued from Fisherman’s Rock at Whangaparaoa after becoming trapped.
Waikato
Heavy Rain
at
Waikato
Coromandel Peninsula recorded 260 mm (26.0 cm) of rain in 14 hours.
Flooding
Minor surface flooding created hazardous driving conditions for motorists.
High Wind / Gust
Gale force easterlies affected the Coromandel on the 24th.
Power was cut to about 7000 homes in the Coromandel Peninsula, Thames Valley and Tauranga due to fallen branches or trees on the 24th. The supply was restored to around half of the consumers by midday.
Multi Hazard
There was a two-car accident on Kopu-Hikuwai Road (State Highway 25A) on the 24th.
Heavy Rain
at
Hamilton
Torrential rain caused problems in Dinsdale on the 25th.
Flooding
The Fire Service had a flurry of calls for around two hours from 2pm. There was quite severe flooding in a Salvation Army shop in Dinsdale and in another place firefighters had to cut holes in a roof to stop the water pressure on it.
Flooding
at
Karangahake Gorge
State Highway 2 through Karangahake Gorge was closed due to flooding on the 24th and 25th.
Flooding
at
Waingaro
Dozens of bathers had to leave Waingaro Hot Springs as torrential rain caused severe flooding there on the 25th. Brown water started trickling in around 3pm, coming in through the carpark, down a set of steps and into the pools. The water started to recede when the rain stopped around 4:30pm. The pools suffered no structural damage but had to be emptied and cleaned.
Heavy Rain
at
Whitianga
Whitianga recorded 106 mm (10.6 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 24th.
Bay of Plenty
Multi Hazard
at
Bay of Plenty
The Bay of Plenty experienced torrential rain and high winds on the 24th.
Multi Hazard
at
Kaimai Range
Rain and wind caused poor conditions along State Highway 29 over the Kamai Ranges, as well as some surface flooding near the summit.
Heavy Rain
at
Rotorua
Rotorua Airport recorded 140 mm (14.0 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 25th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Tauranga
Power was cut to homes in Tauranga.
Heavy Rain
Tauranga recorded 66 mm (6.6 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 24th.
In Tauranga it was still raining by evening on the 24th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Whakatane
The roof was lifted off a motel in Whakatane.
Wellington
Heavy Rain
at
Wellington
A downpour hit the Wellington region mid-afternoon on the 25th as a front associated with a southerly change moved over the area.
The heavy rain caused disruptions across Wellington, with police reporting several accidents and traffic delays on the afternoon of the 25th.
Multi Hazard
at
Petone
An accident occurred at Horokiwi Road, in which a person was trapped, causing major hold-ups on State Highway 2.
Multi Hazard
at
Tawa
A car slipped off State Highway 1 just before the northbound Tawa off ramp.
Multi Hazard
at
Wellington City
An ambulance crashed and rolled onto its roof at the intersection of Vivian and Victoria Streets.
References
- Major weather events in New Zealand, Floods and High Rainfall, Floods to 30 Sept 2005.
- Major weather events in New Zealand, Floods and High Rainfall, Floods to 31st July 2006.
- Headline: Weather Highlights of 2006, 27/12/2006 www.scoop.co.nz.
- Meteorological Society of New Zealand (Inc.), Newsletter 108, March 2007.
- Headline: Roads, power hit by bad weather.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: Newstalk ZB, Herald Staff, 24 January 2006, 4:00pm.
- Headline: Ambulance rolls in heavy rain.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 25 January 2006, 3:35pm.
- Headline: High winds cause havoc.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 25 January 2006, 8:45pm.
- Headline: Wild weather hammers North Island.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: Herald Staff and NZPA, 25 January 2006.
- Headline: Downpour pulls dirty trick on Waingaro Hot Springs.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 26 January 2006.
- Headline: Hamilton feels sting as storm moves on.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 26 January 2006.
- Headline: Rain 'better late than never'.
- The Northern Advocate, 25 January 2006.
January 2006 North Island Storm
(
2006-01-23
)
High winds, heavy rain flooding and high seas were experienced in the upper North Island and Wellington, causing power cuts and road accidents. A truck driver was seriously injured on an Auckland motorway.
North Island
Multi Hazard
at
North Island
Duration: 3 days - From the 23rd to the 25th of January.
On the 23rd, a high pressure system moved east, leaving a northerly flow that brought tropical rain clouds and a low pressure system that had been lying in the Pacific Islands. The low deepened on the 24th, bringing high winds and heavy rain to the North Island.
Most of the destruction occurred between Mangawhai (Northland) and South Auckland.
Thousands of householders lost power as severe weather crossed the North Island. Throughout the day on the 24th, about 37,000 residential customers experienced power cuts. About 17,000 consumers were still without power as night fell. On the 25th power had been restored to all but a few customers.
Emergency services had to deal with arcing powerlines, fallen trees, sinking yachts and trapped motorists. Extra emergency staff were called in to help in some areas. The Fire Service received more than 250 weather-related emergency calls on the 24th, many about powerlines and trees falling on homes or roads, and dozens about lifting roof tiles and building panels. By 3pm the Fire Communications Centre was forced to prioritise calls.
In the five hours from 1pm to 6pm, police at the Northern Communications Centre received 157 calls about blocked roads and 88 calls about vehicle accidents.
Heavy Rain
Many areas received at least 50 mm (5.0 cm) of rain. Parts of Northland, Auckland, Coromandel and Bay of Plenty had received 40-60 mm (4.0-6.0 cm) of rain by 7pm on the 24th, and there was two or three times more than that in the surrounding hills. These regions had from between a third and a whole month’s worth of rain in a single day.
Northland
Multi Hazard
at
Northland
Power cuts were experienced in Northland.
High Wind / Gust
at
Mangawhai
Roofs were lifted in Mangawhai.
Heavy Rain
at
Kaeo
Kaeo recorded 90 mm (9.0 cm) of rain from the 23rd to 2:30pm on the 24th.
Heavy Rain
at
Kaikohe
The Kaikohe area recorded 87 mm (8.7 cm) of rain from the 23rd to 2:30pm on the 24th.
Heavy Rain
at
Kerikeri
Kerikeri recorded 103 mm (10.3 cm) of rain from the 23rd to 2:30pm on the 24th.
Heavy Rain
at
Puhipuhi
Puhipuhi recorded 148 mm (14.8 cm) of rain from the 23rd to 2:30pm on the 24th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Ruakaka
The living room windows were blown out of an elderly man’s house in Ruakaka.
Heavy Rain
at
Whangarei
Whangarei recorded 104 mm (10.4 cm) of rain in 22.5 hours from 8pm on the 23rd to 2:30pm on the 24th.
Whangarei recorded 106 mm (10.6 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 24th.
Auckland
Multi Hazard
at
Auckland
Heavy rain and wind on the roads created extremely bad conditions on the 24th. Motorists and emergency services were delayed in several areas by fallen debris.
North Shore, Mount Eden and Newmarket were among the areas worst affected.
High Wind / Gust
Auckland experienced gale-force easterly winds on the 24th.
Trees came down around Auckland, blocking roads and hitting homes.
Powerlines came down throughout the Auckland region, causing electrical arcing and cutting power from Wellsford to Coatesville. There were power cuts in the areas of Helensville, Coatesville, New Lynn, Henderson, Piha, Northcote/Birkdale, Waiheke Island, Bucklands Beach and Whitford.
Throughout Auckland, roof tiles and sheets of iron came loose, some flapping in the wind and some crashing to the ground.
Some of the Rodney District Council's wastewater pump stations were unable to pump sewage on the 24th because of the power outages.
Flooding
Surface flooding occurred in the North Shore.
High Wind / Gust
at
Auckland City
The Sky Tower recorded an average wind speed of 130 km/hr on the 24th.
The Sky Tower recorded a peak wind speed of 150 km/hr on the 24th.
Heavy Rain
at
Auckland International Airport
Auckland Airport recorded 43 mm (4.3 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 24th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Greenhithe
A water tanker rolled down a hill in Greenhithe and crashed into the side of a house.
High Wind / Gust
at
Hauraki
A door was blown out of a home in Hauraki.
High Wind / Gust
at
Henderson
Blackouts were reported in Henderson.
High Wind / Gust
at
Lincoln
A truck driver was seriously injured after his truck crashed into the centre barrier on the Northwestern Motorway, just before the Lincoln Road off ramp, at 12:20pm on the 24th. The driver had to be cut from the truck.
The motorway was subsequently closed westbound from Te Atatu to Lincoln Road.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Matheson Bay
Two people were tipped out of their dinghy after trying to secure a boat in Matheson Bay, but they managed to climb to safety.
High Wind / Gust
at
New Lynn
In New Lyn, fallen branches caused an explosion on a powerline.
Flooding
at
Orewa
Surface flooding occurred in Orewa.
High Wind / Gust
at
Ramarama
Strong winds blew a truck onto its side on the Southern Motorway near Ramarama at 1:45pm on the 24th.
Flooding
at
Remuera
Flooding occurred at several homes and at an apartment in Remuera.
Lightning
at
Riverhead
A lightning strike set trees on fire in Riverhead.
High Wind / Gust
at
Snells Beach
Firefighters had to secure a caravan that nearly blew over in Snells Beach.
High Wind / Gust
at
Waitemata Harbour
Strong winds tore several boats from their moorings in the Waitemata Harbour.
Maritime / Coastal
One yacht sank by the container terminal after coming off its mooring in huge seas, and a runabout was seen floating out at sea.
High Wind / Gust
at
Waiwera
A chimney was blown off a roof in Waiwera and the windows of another building were blown out.
A truck and a van collided at 2:15pm just south of Waiwera Bridge on State Highway 1, trapping one person and delaying motorists.
High Wind / Gust
at
Warkworth
Power cuts were experienced in Warkworth.
Flooding
Surface flooding occurred in Warkworth.
Multi Hazard
at
Wellsford
Power cuts were experienced in Wellsford.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Whangaparaoa
Four people had to be rescued from Fisherman’s Rock at Whangaparaoa after becoming trapped.
Waikato
Heavy Rain
at
Waikato
Coromandel Peninsula recorded 260 mm (26.0 cm) of rain in 14 hours.
Flooding
Minor surface flooding created hazardous driving conditions for motorists.
High Wind / Gust
Gale force easterlies affected the Coromandel on the 24th.
Power was cut to about 7000 homes in the Coromandel Peninsula, Thames Valley and Tauranga due to fallen branches or trees on the 24th. The supply was restored to around half of the consumers by midday.
Multi Hazard
There was a two-car accident on Kopu-Hikuwai Road (State Highway 25A) on the 24th.
Heavy Rain
at
Hamilton
Torrential rain caused problems in Dinsdale on the 25th.
Flooding
The Fire Service had a flurry of calls for around two hours from 2pm. There was quite severe flooding in a Salvation Army shop in Dinsdale and in another place firefighters had to cut holes in a roof to stop the water pressure on it.
Flooding
at
Karangahake Gorge
State Highway 2 through Karangahake Gorge was closed due to flooding on the 24th and 25th.
Flooding
at
Waingaro
Dozens of bathers had to leave Waingaro Hot Springs as torrential rain caused severe flooding there on the 25th. Brown water started trickling in around 3pm, coming in through the carpark, down a set of steps and into the pools. The water started to recede when the rain stopped around 4:30pm. The pools suffered no structural damage but had to be emptied and cleaned.
Heavy Rain
at
Whitianga
Whitianga recorded 106 mm (10.6 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 24th.
Bay of Plenty
Multi Hazard
at
Bay of Plenty
The Bay of Plenty experienced torrential rain and high winds on the 24th.
Multi Hazard
at
Kaimai Range
Rain and wind caused poor conditions along State Highway 29 over the Kamai Ranges, as well as some surface flooding near the summit.
Heavy Rain
at
Rotorua
Rotorua Airport recorded 140 mm (14.0 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 25th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Tauranga
Power was cut to homes in Tauranga.
Heavy Rain
Tauranga recorded 66 mm (6.6 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 24th.
In Tauranga it was still raining by evening on the 24th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Whakatane
The roof was lifted off a motel in Whakatane.
Wellington
Heavy Rain
at
Wellington
A downpour hit the Wellington region mid-afternoon on the 25th as a front associated with a southerly change moved over the area.
The heavy rain caused disruptions across Wellington, with police reporting several accidents and traffic delays on the afternoon of the 25th.
Multi Hazard
at
Petone
An accident occurred at Horokiwi Road, in which a person was trapped, causing major hold-ups on State Highway 2.
Multi Hazard
at
Tawa
A car slipped off State Highway 1 just before the northbound Tawa off ramp.
Multi Hazard
at
Wellington City
An ambulance crashed and rolled onto its roof at the intersection of Vivian and Victoria Streets.
References
- Major weather events in New Zealand, Floods and High Rainfall, Floods to 30 Sept 2005.
- Major weather events in New Zealand, Floods and High Rainfall, Floods to 31st July 2006.
- Headline: Weather Highlights of 2006, 27/12/2006 www.scoop.co.nz.
- Meteorological Society of New Zealand (Inc.), Newsletter 108, March 2007.
- Headline: Roads, power hit by bad weather.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: Newstalk ZB, Herald Staff, 24 January 2006, 4:00pm.
- Headline: Ambulance rolls in heavy rain.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 25 January 2006, 3:35pm.
- Headline: High winds cause havoc.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 25 January 2006, 8:45pm.
- Headline: Wild weather hammers North Island.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: Herald Staff and NZPA, 25 January 2006.
- Headline: Downpour pulls dirty trick on Waingaro Hot Springs.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 26 January 2006.
- Headline: Hamilton feels sting as storm moves on.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 26 January 2006.
- Headline: Rain 'better late than never'.
- The Northern Advocate, 25 January 2006.