NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
July 1883 Auckland and Waikato Storm ( 1883-07-24 )
Auckland and Waikato experienced high winds, high seas, heavy rain and flooding, which caused property damage.
North Island
Multi Hazard
Duration: 4 days - From the 24th to the 27th of July.
Auckland
Multi Hazard
at
Auckland
Auckland experienced a fresh north-east gale from early in the day on the 24th, with accompanying dirty weather. By about 2am on the 25th, a fierce gale was blowing, with a heavy sea running up the harbour, accompanied with heavy squalls of rain. At 3am the wind and seas had further increased. Between 3am and 4am was perhaps the strongest part of the gale. At about 9am on the 25th, the wind and sea started to cease.
High Wind / Gust
The wind gradually increased in strength, until towards evening on the 24th it was blowing a fresh gale with rain.
There was little doubt that the gale's fierceness matched that of the memorable gale of March 1874.
Maritime / Coastal
Shortly after daylight the barque Gazelle dragged her anchors, which were picked up and snapped the telephone cable connecting North Shore and Auckland. Telephone communication was broken off with the North Shore.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Auckland City
Some damage was sustained by several vessels in port, although the damage was comparatively light compared to that of the March 1874 gale.
Shortly after 12am, a Harbour Board silt punt drifted towards the Queen Street Wharf and fouled the cutter 'South Carolina', causing her to break in the whole of her starboard quarter. The punt then ran on top of a large open boat, 'Parliament', smashing in her bows, and causing the loss of some ten dozen crayfish on board. The loss of the fish alone was about £7 ($1100 2008 dollars).
The schooner 'Orpheus' did some damage to her side by chafing against wharf piles on the eastern side of Queens Street Wharf. The cutter 'Watchman' also dragged but was moored safely.
At Freemans Bay, a few of the cutters' dingies and small boats were swamped or smashed, as well as a small yacht.
The most serious damage sustained by vessels was by those at the Railway Wharf.
The ketch 'Wild Duck' drifted, was smashed and had to be scuttled. The damage was estimated at about £150 ($23,500 2008 dollars).
The schooner 'Sybil' was badly knocked about at the Railway Wharf and had to be scuttled. The damage was estimated at about £100 ($15,700 2008 dollars).
Maritime / Coastal
at
Devonport
The barge 'Ghost' dragged anchor from off North Head, smashed through the centre of Devonport Wharf, and was brought up by Devonport North Shore Rowing Club's shed.
Waikato
Flooding
at
Waikato
Traffic was stopped between Te Aroha and Hamilton due to about 3 miles of road being flooded between Hamilton and Waitoa bush.
High Wind / Gust
at
Karangahake
At Karangahake, trees were torn up by the roots.
Hauraki trestle work on top of the Maria spur was blown over, but not broken or strained.
On Waitawheta River the wind swept large sheets of water into the air, making it almost impossible to see across the creek. No damage was done to the water race except for the head of a 1 1/4 in (3.2 cm) bolt being wrenched off.
Landslide
There were several bad slips on the new pack track caused by the rain, which was driven by the wind like a hydraulic sluice.
High Wind / Gust
at
Paeroa
A gale set in at Paeroa at about 4pm on the 24th and blew with great fury until about 12am on the 25th.
It was one of the most severe gales in the district since its settlement.
Many fences in the line of the gale were blown down or considerably damaged. Material for a house was carried away, and a few hundred sleepers for the Thames Valley Railway were carried away.
Trestle-work for the Hauraki tramway from the mine to the first hopper was blown down and some of it carried away.
Flooding
In and around Paeroa, low-lying allotments were under water.
Some of the old water courses were so high they flooded yards and gardens that had never before been known to be under water.
Normanby Road (the main street) was a river.
The Ohinemuri River did not rise as much as residents had seen it do in six hours with the same amount of rain and the same wind direction.
The whole of the land around the Junction was under water, leaving residents along the river side isolated for the day.
The main road through the swamp and the greater part of Thorp's paddock were one continuous sheet of water, with no road visible.
Multi Hazard
Several buildings suffered more or less.
All outdoor work and almost all business was at a standstill throughout the day.
High Wind / Gust
at
Te Aroha
A fearful gale struck Te Aroha from the south-east on the 24th. The terrific gale was still blowing on the 25th.
Coleman's and Killian's hotel under construction was blown down, as were several other houses. Two residences were unroofed, a lot of windows were smashed and goods were destroyed.
The end was blown out of Wells and Soutter's grain store, windows were smashed and planks, iron, cases, etc., were flying about like pieces of paper.
Nothing like this gale had been known there before.
O'Halloran's stables were blown to shivers.
Heavy Rain
Heavy rain accompanied the gale.
Flooding
The river was rising at Te Aroha, and flooded the town up to Allwood's on the 25th.
Heavy Rain
at
Thames
Heavy rains fell at Thames on the 25th, and continued with unrestrained violence on the 26th.
High Wind / Gust
The rain was accompanied by heavy easterly winds.
Fences, chimneys, tradesmen's shutters and windows were damaged.
On the morning of the 27th, a stiff gale blew from the south-west for several hours.
Flooding
Numerous creeks were abnormally swollen.
Many parts of the town were flooded.
A culvert in Albert Street failed to carry off storm water, leaving the brokers' offices on the southern side and the paper office unapproachable for several hours after high tide.
Moanataiari and Waiotahi Streams were greatly swollen, but the aqueducts coped.
Karaka Stream was running nearly as high as it was in the disaster two years ago, but the straightening of the bed prevented the neighbourhood being flooded.
Karaka Stream overflowed at the Pollen Street bridge, partly owing to the escape of water being obstructed by the flood tide.
The flood water passed through five business premises. Very little damage was done due to sufficient warning by the rising of the water.
Residents between Karaka Stream and Walter Street were considerably inconvenienced by the overflow.
Sealey and Willoughby Streets were flooded due to the inability of culverts to carry away storm water brought down from the hills.
The flats at Parawai, including the Gardens, were inundated throughout the day by the Kauaeranga River.
The Kauaeranga River was fully 1 ft (30 cm) higher than in the floods of a few weeks ago.
On the Kauaeranga River, all 800-1000 logs were brought down to the booms of Shortland Sawmill Co. Four piles near the southern bank gave way and about 80 logs were swept to sea, only some being recovered.
Several houses in the vicinity of Karaka Stream had water some inches high over the floor for some time.
Maritime / Coastal
At Shortland Wharf, two fishing smacks were carried out to sea and lost, and another floated out to the banks. Another fishing vessel was stove in by rushing logs and a mail boat sustained a small casualty. Two barges were swept beyond the lighthouse, but rescued, the p.s. 'Patiki' was broken in a collision with a log, and the launch 'Riro Riro' drifted a short distance along the channel.
The fishing boat 'Adah' was missing, with two men on board - a man named Harris and a lad named Monro.
At Good's Wharf, the Harbour Board's dredge parted two anchor ropes and dragged a short distance, but no damage was done.
On the 27th, the old cutter 'Chelsea', moored within the intake, dragged her anchors and was driven upon the seawall near Custom-house. Some damage was done to the bottom of the vessel.
Multi Hazard
Business was almost entirely suspended.
During the gale on the 25th, the Kauaeranga and Hihi bridge was completely carried away by the heavy fresh and the wind. This caused great inconvenience and loss to those who had to cross the stream.
Landslide
A slip on the water race stopped the batteries, but was expected to be working the next day.
Flooding
at
Waitekauri
On the Waitekauri Range Track, the whole of the bridges were carried away and the track was impassable for pack horses.
References
- Headline: ??.
- The New Zealand Herald, 25 July 1883.
- Headline: Storm and floods at Thames.
- The New Zealand Herald, 26 July 1883.
- Headline: Yesterday's gale.
- The New Zealand Herald, 26 July 1883.
- Headline: Severe dtorm and flood.
- The Thames Advertiser, 26 July 1883.
- Headline: The storm at Te Aroha.
- The Thames Advertiser, 26 July 1883.
- Headline: The late gale at Paeroa and neighbourhood.
- The Thames Advertiser, 28 July 1883.
- Headline: Saturday, July 28, 1883.
- The Thames Advertiser, 28 July 1883.
- Headline: Te Aroha, yesterday.
- paperspast.natlib.govt.nz, Source: Waikato Times, 26 July 1883.
July 1883 Auckland and Waikato Storm ( 1883-07-24 )
Auckland and Waikato experienced high winds, high seas, heavy rain and flooding, which caused property damage.
North Island
Multi Hazard
Duration: 4 days - From the 24th to the 27th of July.
Auckland
Multi Hazard
at
Auckland
Auckland experienced a fresh north-east gale from early in the day on the 24th, with accompanying dirty weather. By about 2am on the 25th, a fierce gale was blowing, with a heavy sea running up the harbour, accompanied with heavy squalls of rain. At 3am the wind and seas had further increased. Between 3am and 4am was perhaps the strongest part of the gale. At about 9am on the 25th, the wind and sea started to cease.
High Wind / Gust
The wind gradually increased in strength, until towards evening on the 24th it was blowing a fresh gale with rain.
There was little doubt that the gale's fierceness matched that of the memorable gale of March 1874.
Maritime / Coastal
Shortly after daylight the barque Gazelle dragged her anchors, which were picked up and snapped the telephone cable connecting North Shore and Auckland. Telephone communication was broken off with the North Shore.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Auckland City
Some damage was sustained by several vessels in port, although the damage was comparatively light compared to that of the March 1874 gale.
Shortly after 12am, a Harbour Board silt punt drifted towards the Queen Street Wharf and fouled the cutter 'South Carolina', causing her to break in the whole of her starboard quarter. The punt then ran on top of a large open boat, 'Parliament', smashing in her bows, and causing the loss of some ten dozen crayfish on board. The loss of the fish alone was about £7 ($1100 2008 dollars).
The schooner 'Orpheus' did some damage to her side by chafing against wharf piles on the eastern side of Queens Street Wharf. The cutter 'Watchman' also dragged but was moored safely.
At Freemans Bay, a few of the cutters' dingies and small boats were swamped or smashed, as well as a small yacht.
The most serious damage sustained by vessels was by those at the Railway Wharf.
The ketch 'Wild Duck' drifted, was smashed and had to be scuttled. The damage was estimated at about £150 ($23,500 2008 dollars).
The schooner 'Sybil' was badly knocked about at the Railway Wharf and had to be scuttled. The damage was estimated at about £100 ($15,700 2008 dollars).
Maritime / Coastal
at
Devonport
The barge 'Ghost' dragged anchor from off North Head, smashed through the centre of Devonport Wharf, and was brought up by Devonport North Shore Rowing Club's shed.
Waikato
Flooding
at
Waikato
Traffic was stopped between Te Aroha and Hamilton due to about 3 miles of road being flooded between Hamilton and Waitoa bush.
High Wind / Gust
at
Karangahake
At Karangahake, trees were torn up by the roots.
Hauraki trestle work on top of the Maria spur was blown over, but not broken or strained.
On Waitawheta River the wind swept large sheets of water into the air, making it almost impossible to see across the creek. No damage was done to the water race except for the head of a 1 1/4 in (3.2 cm) bolt being wrenched off.
Landslide
There were several bad slips on the new pack track caused by the rain, which was driven by the wind like a hydraulic sluice.
High Wind / Gust
at
Paeroa
A gale set in at Paeroa at about 4pm on the 24th and blew with great fury until about 12am on the 25th.
It was one of the most severe gales in the district since its settlement.
Many fences in the line of the gale were blown down or considerably damaged. Material for a house was carried away, and a few hundred sleepers for the Thames Valley Railway were carried away.
Trestle-work for the Hauraki tramway from the mine to the first hopper was blown down and some of it carried away.
Flooding
In and around Paeroa, low-lying allotments were under water.
Some of the old water courses were so high they flooded yards and gardens that had never before been known to be under water.
Normanby Road (the main street) was a river.
The Ohinemuri River did not rise as much as residents had seen it do in six hours with the same amount of rain and the same wind direction.
The whole of the land around the Junction was under water, leaving residents along the river side isolated for the day.
The main road through the swamp and the greater part of Thorp's paddock were one continuous sheet of water, with no road visible.
Multi Hazard
Several buildings suffered more or less.
All outdoor work and almost all business was at a standstill throughout the day.
High Wind / Gust
at
Te Aroha
A fearful gale struck Te Aroha from the south-east on the 24th. The terrific gale was still blowing on the 25th.
Coleman's and Killian's hotel under construction was blown down, as were several other houses. Two residences were unroofed, a lot of windows were smashed and goods were destroyed.
The end was blown out of Wells and Soutter's grain store, windows were smashed and planks, iron, cases, etc., were flying about like pieces of paper.
Nothing like this gale had been known there before.
O'Halloran's stables were blown to shivers.
Heavy Rain
Heavy rain accompanied the gale.
Flooding
The river was rising at Te Aroha, and flooded the town up to Allwood's on the 25th.
Heavy Rain
at
Thames
Heavy rains fell at Thames on the 25th, and continued with unrestrained violence on the 26th.
High Wind / Gust
The rain was accompanied by heavy easterly winds.
Fences, chimneys, tradesmen's shutters and windows were damaged.
On the morning of the 27th, a stiff gale blew from the south-west for several hours.
Flooding
Numerous creeks were abnormally swollen.
Many parts of the town were flooded.
A culvert in Albert Street failed to carry off storm water, leaving the brokers' offices on the southern side and the paper office unapproachable for several hours after high tide.
Moanataiari and Waiotahi Streams were greatly swollen, but the aqueducts coped.
Karaka Stream was running nearly as high as it was in the disaster two years ago, but the straightening of the bed prevented the neighbourhood being flooded.
Karaka Stream overflowed at the Pollen Street bridge, partly owing to the escape of water being obstructed by the flood tide.
The flood water passed through five business premises. Very little damage was done due to sufficient warning by the rising of the water.
Residents between Karaka Stream and Walter Street were considerably inconvenienced by the overflow.
Sealey and Willoughby Streets were flooded due to the inability of culverts to carry away storm water brought down from the hills.
The flats at Parawai, including the Gardens, were inundated throughout the day by the Kauaeranga River.
The Kauaeranga River was fully 1 ft (30 cm) higher than in the floods of a few weeks ago.
On the Kauaeranga River, all 800-1000 logs were brought down to the booms of Shortland Sawmill Co. Four piles near the southern bank gave way and about 80 logs were swept to sea, only some being recovered.
Several houses in the vicinity of Karaka Stream had water some inches high over the floor for some time.
Maritime / Coastal
At Shortland Wharf, two fishing smacks were carried out to sea and lost, and another floated out to the banks. Another fishing vessel was stove in by rushing logs and a mail boat sustained a small casualty. Two barges were swept beyond the lighthouse, but rescued, the p.s. 'Patiki' was broken in a collision with a log, and the launch 'Riro Riro' drifted a short distance along the channel.
The fishing boat 'Adah' was missing, with two men on board - a man named Harris and a lad named Monro.
At Good's Wharf, the Harbour Board's dredge parted two anchor ropes and dragged a short distance, but no damage was done.
On the 27th, the old cutter 'Chelsea', moored within the intake, dragged her anchors and was driven upon the seawall near Custom-house. Some damage was done to the bottom of the vessel.
Multi Hazard
Business was almost entirely suspended.
During the gale on the 25th, the Kauaeranga and Hihi bridge was completely carried away by the heavy fresh and the wind. This caused great inconvenience and loss to those who had to cross the stream.
Landslide
A slip on the water race stopped the batteries, but was expected to be working the next day.
Flooding
at
Waitekauri
On the Waitekauri Range Track, the whole of the bridges were carried away and the track was impassable for pack horses.
References
- Headline: ??.
- The New Zealand Herald, 25 July 1883.
- Headline: Storm and floods at Thames.
- The New Zealand Herald, 26 July 1883.
- Headline: Yesterday's gale.
- The New Zealand Herald, 26 July 1883.
- Headline: Severe dtorm and flood.
- The Thames Advertiser, 26 July 1883.
- Headline: The storm at Te Aroha.
- The Thames Advertiser, 26 July 1883.
- Headline: The late gale at Paeroa and neighbourhood.
- The Thames Advertiser, 28 July 1883.
- Headline: Saturday, July 28, 1883.
- The Thames Advertiser, 28 July 1883.
- Headline: Te Aroha, yesterday.
- paperspast.natlib.govt.nz, Source: Waikato Times, 26 July 1883.