NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
January 2009 Canterbury Thunderstorms
(
2009-01-17
)
Thunderstorms over Canterbury, Otago and Southland brought lightning, hail, heavy rain and waterspouts.
South Island
Multi Hazard
at
South Island
Duration: 2 days - From the 17th till the 18th of January.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 12:42 pm 15-Jan-2009: Spell of heavy rain expected in Fiordland and Westland on Friday and or Saturday should also spill into headwaters of Canterbury. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: from about Big Bay in northern Fiordland to Otira, also headwaters of the main lakes and rivers of Canterbury.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:10 pm 15-Jan-2009: Heavy rain on the way for the ranges of northern Fiordland and Westland as well the Canterbury headwaters. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: about the ranges from Big Bay in northern Fiordland to Otira in Westland, also the headwaters of the main lakes and rivers of Canterbury.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 9:14 am 16-Jan-2009: Heavy rain on the way for the ranges of Fiordland and Westland as well the Otago and Canterbury headwaters. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: ranges of Fiordland and Westland from Milford Sound to Otira, also the headwaters of the main lakes and rivers of Otago and Canterbury.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:55 pm 16-Jan-2009: Heavy rain for the ranges of Fiordland and Westland as well the Otago and Canterbury headwaters. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: ranges of Fiordland and Westland from George Sound to Otira, also the headwaters of the main lakes and rivers of Otago and Canterbury.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:51 am 17-Jan-2009: Heavy rain easing by afternoon, although further thundery falls likely over the West Coast and Southern Alps during remainder of the weekend. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: ranges of Westland between Haast and Otira, and the headwaters of the main lakes and rivers of Canterbury. WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE: Heavy Rain Warnings lifted for ranges of Fiordland and southern Westland from George Sound to Haast, also the headwaters of the main lakes and rivers of Otago.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 4:47 pm 17-Jan-2009: Heavy rain has eased, although further thundery falls likely over the West Coast and Southern Alps during remainder of the weekend. WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE: Heavy Rain Warnings lifted for ranges of Westland between Haast and Otira, and the headwaters of the main lakes and rivers of Canterbury.
MetService SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH issued at 01:48 pm Sunday 18 January 2009 for: Marlborough, Christchurch, Canterbury Plains, Canterbury High Country, North Otago, Central Otago, Dunedin, Clutha and Southland.
MetService SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH issued at 02:22 pm Sunday 18 January 2009 for: Marlborough, Christchurch, Canterbury Plains, Canterbury High Country, North Otago, Central Otago, Dunedin, Clutha and Southland.
MetService SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH issued at 06:36 pm Sunday 18 January 2009 for: Marlborough, Christchurch, Canterbury Plains, Canterbury High Country and North Otago.
The storm was associated with a cold front that had worked its way up the country. Thunderstorm cells formed over the Canterbury Plains. Several drifted towards the coast, while some of the bigger ones moved through Ashburton, across Rolleston and over parts of Christchurch.
Eastern parts of the South Island were struck with thunderstorms, strong wind, heavy rain and hail on the 18th.
The worst hit areas were coastal regions from Christchurch to Dunedin but central parts of Otago and Southland were also affected.
Lightning
More than 1,000 lightning strikes were recorded across Canterbury and North Otago between noon and 9pm.
Hail
Hail stones ranged in size from 10-15 mm (1-1.5 cm) in diameter, some being described as grape-sized.
Auckland
Tornado
at
Arkles Bay
From Arkles Bay, two swirling waterspouts were seen coming out of heavy black clouds at about 7.30am on the 19th. The first spout appeared from a cloud bank that was being pushed quickly across the sky in the direction of Kaukapakapa. The second spout appeared over the hills from Manly, and water could be seen swirling within the spout. They disappeared quickly.
Canterbury
Multi Hazard
at
Canterbury
Large swathes of Canterbury were pelted with hail and heavy rain on the 18th. South Canterbury was also struck with strong winds.
Multi Hazard
at
Ashburton
A short and sharp storm brought torrential rain and hail to Ashburton on the afternoon of the 18th.
Ashburton copped the brunt of the front.
Volunteer firefighters from the Ashburton station attended 22 call-outs between 5.02pm and 8.30pm.
Hail
Piles of hail sat on lawns like snow and floated on top of water like icebergs.
Heavy Rain
Ashburton recorded 25.4 mm (2.5 cm) of rain between 5pm and 6pm on the 18th.
A weather station on Tucker Street recorded about 56 mm (5.6 cm) of rain in just over an hour, from 4.43pm until 5.56pm.
Ashburton Domain recorded 24.6 mm (2.5 cm) of rain.
Ashburton Airport recorded 27.6 mm (2.8 cm) of rain.
Water leaked through the roof of the Ashburton Library and dozens of books were destroyed. Carpets were flooded, ceiling tiles were broken and many light fittings had to be disconnected because they were gushing water.
Flooding
Drains could not cope with the rain and hail and streets were flooded. Queens Drive and Pages Road had to be closed and an Ashburton fire engine could not get through on SH1 to a house fire callout at Rakaia. At one stage the water was flowing down Queens Drive like a river, with hail stones sitting on top like icebergs.
Streets were bank to bank with water knee-deep in places. The waters had receded a few hours later.
Some houses and shops were flooded. Flooded streets were a real problem for owners of low-lying homes. At one house on Queens Drive the stinking flood waters entered all but one bedroom, and most of the garden was washed away.
Gardens were damaged, with reports of pumpkins shredded and sweet corn cut around. There were two shops where water was pouring through the roof onto stock.
Many carpets were damaged by floodwaters, and it would take weeks to get them all cleaned. First Call ChemDry Ashburton had at least 40 cases from flooded homes in Ashburton and Jae Services Ashburton had 70 new jobs since the downpour.
AMI Insurance Ashburton had received about 70 claims by the 21st, from minor claims to whole houses. Most of the claims were for carpet damage.
Lightning
The downpour was accompanied by spectacular lightning and thunder.
Lightning
at
Bankside
Lightning caused power outages in the Bankside area, which affected about 30 customers.
Heavy Rain
at
Christchurch
More than 20 mm (2 cm) of rain fell in Christchurch.
Flooding
The Christchurch Fire Service received 124 calls about flooded garages and basements on the afternoon and evening of the 18th. 38 calls were received between 5pm and 7pm
Much of the flooding was caused by heavy rain unable to flow through blocked drains in parts of the southwestern suburbs.
Motorists were stranded on Barrington St as water rose rapidly. Some cars had to be abandoned or towed after breaking down in the floodwater and police blocked an area around Barringtons Mall.
In one spot on Barrington St the water was halfway up to waist level.
Water leaked through roofs and into the fire-alarm systems of houses and commercial buildings. Filadelfio's Pizza Restaurant on Colombo St was forced to shut.
There is extensive flooding damage in Filadelfio's Pizza Restaurant.
In Riccarton, Centennial Ave, Peverel Street and Tika Street were flooded on the 18th. A resident of 15 years said she had never seen water come up over the grass verges and onto footpaths in that area.
Tornado
A waterspout formed off Sumner Beach at about 10am on the 18th. The waterspout had a narrow diameter of 10 or 20 metres and it lasted for about ten minutes. It appeared to move past Boulder Bay towards Sumner, disappearing when it neared the cliffs of Scarborough. People at Waimairi Beach sighted what looked like two waterspouts forming quickly around Taylors Mistake.
Lightning
About 30 individual fuses in Christchurch had blown because of the lightning storm.
Heavy Rain
at
Lincoln
Lincoln recorded 23 mm (2.3 cm) of rain between 2pm and 3pm on the 18th.
Flooding
at
Lyttelton
Lyttelton and Governors Bay firefighters attended flood-related callouts.
Lightning
at
Rakaia
A lightning strike caused a fire in the roof of a house on South Town Belt. The fire smouldered away before firefighters arrived and removed sheets of iron from the roof.
Lightning
at
Springston
In Springston, lightning hit a main power line, damaging two transformers and cutting electricity to about 20 customers.
Multi Hazard
at
Taitapu
About 200 homes Tai Tapu lost power at 6pm after a car hit a power pole.
Heavy Rain
at
Winchmore
Winchmore recorded 26.8 mm (2.7 cm) of rain from 4pm to 5pm on the 18th - the highest hourly rate of the day.
Southland
Heavy Rain
at
Gore
The Gore Racing Club's meeting on the 17th closed early as the last two races were cancelled when heavy rain made the track slippery.
Multi Hazard
at
Invercargill
A spectacular thunderstorm over Invercargill struck shortly after 6pm on the 17th, bringing lightning, thunder and torrential rain.
Both the Invercargill and Kingswell fire services dealt with 26 storm-related calls, mainly to flooded basement garages. The calls began about 6.20pm and continued back-to-back until 8.30pm.
Police attended one weather-related crash when a vehicle carrying four people ran off Otatara Rd near Curren Rd. No one was injured.
Lightning
There were 160 lightning strikes, with many centred on the city. One woman reported seeing Invercargill's landmark water tower struck by forked lightning.
Heavy Rain
Invercargill received about 19 mm (1.9 cm) of rain in 30 minutes from 6pm on the 17th.
Flooding
The storm brought widespread flooding across the city. At the ILT Velodrome the underground vehicle tunnel was flooded.
Hail
The rain was followed by persistent hail in some parts of the city that blanketed the ground like snow.
Flooding
at
Otatara
Rain delayed car racing at Teretonga for an hour as workers cleared water on the track, and a volunteer fire crew had to pump water out of the pitlane.
References
- Headline: Wild weather wrecks havoc in Canterbury.
- www.3news.co.nz, Source: 3 News, 19 January 2009, 5:58pm.
- Headline: Weather bomb lashes Ashburton.
- www.ashburtonguardian.co.nz, 19 January 2009.
- Headline: Flooded… Again....
- www.ashburtonguardian.co.nz, 20 January 2009.
- Headline: Books damaged in leaky library.
- www.ashburtonguardian.co.nz, 21 January 2009.
- Headline: Mop-up to last weeks.
- www.ashburtonguardian.co.nz, 21 January 2009.
- Headline: Heavy rain.
- Christchurch Mail, 21 January 2009.
- Headline: Waterspouts near Chch.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 18 January 2009, 11:00am.
- Headline: Thunderstorms, hail in South Island.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 19 January 2009, 6:01am.
- Headline: Waterspout thrills onlookers.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Marlborough Express, 19 January 2009.
- Headline: Rare twister.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 19 January 2009.
- Headline: Thunderstorms hit hard.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 19 January 2009.
- Headline: Lightning is opening act.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Rodney Times, 20 January 2009.
- Headline: Spectacular storm stretches fire service.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Southland Times, 18 January 2009.
- Headline: Storm gives city short sharp shock.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Southland Times, 19 January 2009.
- Headline: Christchurch braces after flash floods.
- tvnz.co.nz, Source: Newstalk ZB and ONE News, 19 January 2009, 1:21pm.
- MetService Email Lists
January 2009 Canterbury Thunderstorms
(
2009-01-17
)
Thunderstorms over Canterbury, Otago and Southland brought lightning, hail, heavy rain and waterspouts.
South Island
Multi Hazard
at
South Island
Duration: 2 days - From the 17th till the 18th of January.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 12:42 pm 15-Jan-2009: Spell of heavy rain expected in Fiordland and Westland on Friday and or Saturday should also spill into headwaters of Canterbury. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: from about Big Bay in northern Fiordland to Otira, also headwaters of the main lakes and rivers of Canterbury.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:10 pm 15-Jan-2009: Heavy rain on the way for the ranges of northern Fiordland and Westland as well the Canterbury headwaters. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: about the ranges from Big Bay in northern Fiordland to Otira in Westland, also the headwaters of the main lakes and rivers of Canterbury.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 9:14 am 16-Jan-2009: Heavy rain on the way for the ranges of Fiordland and Westland as well the Otago and Canterbury headwaters. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: ranges of Fiordland and Westland from Milford Sound to Otira, also the headwaters of the main lakes and rivers of Otago and Canterbury.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:55 pm 16-Jan-2009: Heavy rain for the ranges of Fiordland and Westland as well the Otago and Canterbury headwaters. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: ranges of Fiordland and Westland from George Sound to Otira, also the headwaters of the main lakes and rivers of Otago and Canterbury.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:51 am 17-Jan-2009: Heavy rain easing by afternoon, although further thundery falls likely over the West Coast and Southern Alps during remainder of the weekend. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: ranges of Westland between Haast and Otira, and the headwaters of the main lakes and rivers of Canterbury. WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE: Heavy Rain Warnings lifted for ranges of Fiordland and southern Westland from George Sound to Haast, also the headwaters of the main lakes and rivers of Otago.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 4:47 pm 17-Jan-2009: Heavy rain has eased, although further thundery falls likely over the West Coast and Southern Alps during remainder of the weekend. WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE: Heavy Rain Warnings lifted for ranges of Westland between Haast and Otira, and the headwaters of the main lakes and rivers of Canterbury.
MetService SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH issued at 01:48 pm Sunday 18 January 2009 for: Marlborough, Christchurch, Canterbury Plains, Canterbury High Country, North Otago, Central Otago, Dunedin, Clutha and Southland.
MetService SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH issued at 02:22 pm Sunday 18 January 2009 for: Marlborough, Christchurch, Canterbury Plains, Canterbury High Country, North Otago, Central Otago, Dunedin, Clutha and Southland.
MetService SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH issued at 06:36 pm Sunday 18 January 2009 for: Marlborough, Christchurch, Canterbury Plains, Canterbury High Country and North Otago.
The storm was associated with a cold front that had worked its way up the country. Thunderstorm cells formed over the Canterbury Plains. Several drifted towards the coast, while some of the bigger ones moved through Ashburton, across Rolleston and over parts of Christchurch.
Eastern parts of the South Island were struck with thunderstorms, strong wind, heavy rain and hail on the 18th.
The worst hit areas were coastal regions from Christchurch to Dunedin but central parts of Otago and Southland were also affected.
Lightning
More than 1,000 lightning strikes were recorded across Canterbury and North Otago between noon and 9pm.
Hail
Hail stones ranged in size from 10-15 mm (1-1.5 cm) in diameter, some being described as grape-sized.
Auckland
Tornado
at
Arkles Bay
From Arkles Bay, two swirling waterspouts were seen coming out of heavy black clouds at about 7.30am on the 19th. The first spout appeared from a cloud bank that was being pushed quickly across the sky in the direction of Kaukapakapa. The second spout appeared over the hills from Manly, and water could be seen swirling within the spout. They disappeared quickly.
Canterbury
Multi Hazard
at
Canterbury
Large swathes of Canterbury were pelted with hail and heavy rain on the 18th. South Canterbury was also struck with strong winds.
Multi Hazard
at
Ashburton
A short and sharp storm brought torrential rain and hail to Ashburton on the afternoon of the 18th.
Ashburton copped the brunt of the front.
Volunteer firefighters from the Ashburton station attended 22 call-outs between 5.02pm and 8.30pm.
Hail
Piles of hail sat on lawns like snow and floated on top of water like icebergs.
Heavy Rain
Ashburton recorded 25.4 mm (2.5 cm) of rain between 5pm and 6pm on the 18th.
A weather station on Tucker Street recorded about 56 mm (5.6 cm) of rain in just over an hour, from 4.43pm until 5.56pm.
Ashburton Domain recorded 24.6 mm (2.5 cm) of rain.
Ashburton Airport recorded 27.6 mm (2.8 cm) of rain.
Water leaked through the roof of the Ashburton Library and dozens of books were destroyed. Carpets were flooded, ceiling tiles were broken and many light fittings had to be disconnected because they were gushing water.
Flooding
Drains could not cope with the rain and hail and streets were flooded. Queens Drive and Pages Road had to be closed and an Ashburton fire engine could not get through on SH1 to a house fire callout at Rakaia. At one stage the water was flowing down Queens Drive like a river, with hail stones sitting on top like icebergs.
Streets were bank to bank with water knee-deep in places. The waters had receded a few hours later.
Some houses and shops were flooded. Flooded streets were a real problem for owners of low-lying homes. At one house on Queens Drive the stinking flood waters entered all but one bedroom, and most of the garden was washed away.
Gardens were damaged, with reports of pumpkins shredded and sweet corn cut around. There were two shops where water was pouring through the roof onto stock.
Many carpets were damaged by floodwaters, and it would take weeks to get them all cleaned. First Call ChemDry Ashburton had at least 40 cases from flooded homes in Ashburton and Jae Services Ashburton had 70 new jobs since the downpour.
AMI Insurance Ashburton had received about 70 claims by the 21st, from minor claims to whole houses. Most of the claims were for carpet damage.
Lightning
The downpour was accompanied by spectacular lightning and thunder.
Lightning
at
Bankside
Lightning caused power outages in the Bankside area, which affected about 30 customers.
Heavy Rain
at
Christchurch
More than 20 mm (2 cm) of rain fell in Christchurch.
Flooding
The Christchurch Fire Service received 124 calls about flooded garages and basements on the afternoon and evening of the 18th. 38 calls were received between 5pm and 7pm
Much of the flooding was caused by heavy rain unable to flow through blocked drains in parts of the southwestern suburbs.
Motorists were stranded on Barrington St as water rose rapidly. Some cars had to be abandoned or towed after breaking down in the floodwater and police blocked an area around Barringtons Mall.
In one spot on Barrington St the water was halfway up to waist level.
Water leaked through roofs and into the fire-alarm systems of houses and commercial buildings. Filadelfio's Pizza Restaurant on Colombo St was forced to shut.
There is extensive flooding damage in Filadelfio's Pizza Restaurant.
In Riccarton, Centennial Ave, Peverel Street and Tika Street were flooded on the 18th. A resident of 15 years said she had never seen water come up over the grass verges and onto footpaths in that area.
Tornado
A waterspout formed off Sumner Beach at about 10am on the 18th. The waterspout had a narrow diameter of 10 or 20 metres and it lasted for about ten minutes. It appeared to move past Boulder Bay towards Sumner, disappearing when it neared the cliffs of Scarborough. People at Waimairi Beach sighted what looked like two waterspouts forming quickly around Taylors Mistake.
Lightning
About 30 individual fuses in Christchurch had blown because of the lightning storm.
Heavy Rain
at
Lincoln
Lincoln recorded 23 mm (2.3 cm) of rain between 2pm and 3pm on the 18th.
Flooding
at
Lyttelton
Lyttelton and Governors Bay firefighters attended flood-related callouts.
Lightning
at
Rakaia
A lightning strike caused a fire in the roof of a house on South Town Belt. The fire smouldered away before firefighters arrived and removed sheets of iron from the roof.
Lightning
at
Springston
In Springston, lightning hit a main power line, damaging two transformers and cutting electricity to about 20 customers.
Multi Hazard
at
Taitapu
About 200 homes Tai Tapu lost power at 6pm after a car hit a power pole.
Heavy Rain
at
Winchmore
Winchmore recorded 26.8 mm (2.7 cm) of rain from 4pm to 5pm on the 18th - the highest hourly rate of the day.
Southland
Heavy Rain
at
Gore
The Gore Racing Club's meeting on the 17th closed early as the last two races were cancelled when heavy rain made the track slippery.
Multi Hazard
at
Invercargill
A spectacular thunderstorm over Invercargill struck shortly after 6pm on the 17th, bringing lightning, thunder and torrential rain.
Both the Invercargill and Kingswell fire services dealt with 26 storm-related calls, mainly to flooded basement garages. The calls began about 6.20pm and continued back-to-back until 8.30pm.
Police attended one weather-related crash when a vehicle carrying four people ran off Otatara Rd near Curren Rd. No one was injured.
Lightning
There were 160 lightning strikes, with many centred on the city. One woman reported seeing Invercargill's landmark water tower struck by forked lightning.
Heavy Rain
Invercargill received about 19 mm (1.9 cm) of rain in 30 minutes from 6pm on the 17th.
Flooding
The storm brought widespread flooding across the city. At the ILT Velodrome the underground vehicle tunnel was flooded.
Hail
The rain was followed by persistent hail in some parts of the city that blanketed the ground like snow.
Flooding
at
Otatara
Rain delayed car racing at Teretonga for an hour as workers cleared water on the track, and a volunteer fire crew had to pump water out of the pitlane.
References
- Headline: Wild weather wrecks havoc in Canterbury.
- www.3news.co.nz, Source: 3 News, 19 January 2009, 5:58pm.
- Headline: Weather bomb lashes Ashburton.
- www.ashburtonguardian.co.nz, 19 January 2009.
- Headline: Flooded… Again....
- www.ashburtonguardian.co.nz, 20 January 2009.
- Headline: Books damaged in leaky library.
- www.ashburtonguardian.co.nz, 21 January 2009.
- Headline: Mop-up to last weeks.
- www.ashburtonguardian.co.nz, 21 January 2009.
- Headline: Heavy rain.
- Christchurch Mail, 21 January 2009.
- Headline: Waterspouts near Chch.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 18 January 2009, 11:00am.
- Headline: Thunderstorms, hail in South Island.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 19 January 2009, 6:01am.
- Headline: Waterspout thrills onlookers.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Marlborough Express, 19 January 2009.
- Headline: Rare twister.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 19 January 2009.
- Headline: Thunderstorms hit hard.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 19 January 2009.
- Headline: Lightning is opening act.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Rodney Times, 20 January 2009.
- Headline: Spectacular storm stretches fire service.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Southland Times, 18 January 2009.
- Headline: Storm gives city short sharp shock.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Southland Times, 19 January 2009.
- Headline: Christchurch braces after flash floods.
- tvnz.co.nz, Source: Newstalk ZB and ONE News, 19 January 2009, 1:21pm.
- MetService Email Lists