NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
July 1942 West Coast Flooding ( 1942-07-12 )
Extremely heavy rain fell on the West Coast resulting in flooding in Greymouth and Westport areas.
Tasman-Nelson
Heavy Rain
at
Lake Rotoiti
Rotoiti recorded 2.52 in (6.40 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Heavy Rain
at
Murchison
Murchison recorded 3.67 in (9.32 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
West Coast
Heavy Rain
at
West Coast
There was heavy rain on the 12th.
Snow / Ice
The Midland railway was affected as snow at higher altitudes caused delays.
Heavy Rain
at
Greymouth
Greymouth recorded 4.65 in (11.81 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Greymouth recorded 6.31 in (16.03 cm) of rain in 48 hours.
Flooding
In Greymouth and the surrounding districts, flooding, numerous slips and washouts blocked roads.
In Greymouth, the Grey River rose within 3 ft (0.91 m) of the wharf.
Minor flooding occurred in the lower portions of Greymouth.
Several coalmines were idle due to slips and washouts occurring on the railway line.
The damage to Grey county roads was £1622 ($125,200 2009 dollars).
Landslide
There were small slips in the area.
Flooding
at
Inangahua
9 ft (2.74 m) of water covered the road to Nelson in Inangahua.
Buller Gorge road was blocked by flood waters and slips.
The damage to the roads in Inangahua county was £1100 ($84,900 2009 dollars).
Landslide
Many roads in the area were blocked by slips.
Heavy Rain
at
Karamea
Karamea recorded 3.20 in (8.13 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Heavy Rain
at
Millerton
Millerton recorded 5.84 in (14.83 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Heavy Rain
at
Reefton
Reefton recorded 4.19 in (10.64 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Heavy Rain
at
Rewanui
Rewanui recorded 7.4 in (18.80 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Rewanui recorded 11.64 in (29.57 cm) of rain in 48 hours.
Heavy Rain
at
Westport
Westport recorded 3.65 in (9.27 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
There was heavy rain in the Buller area.
Flooding
Flooding occurred in the lower-lying parts of Westport.
Buller River was in high flood and the level was very near the decking of the wharf.
References
- Cowie, C.A.: Attwood, A.K. (1957) Floods in New Zealand 1920-53, The Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand, p.239.
July 1942 West Coast Flooding ( 1942-07-12 )
Extremely heavy rain fell on the West Coast resulting in flooding in Greymouth and Westport areas.
Tasman-Nelson
Heavy Rain
at
Lake Rotoiti
Rotoiti recorded 2.52 in (6.40 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Heavy Rain
at
Murchison
Murchison recorded 3.67 in (9.32 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
West Coast
Heavy Rain
at
West Coast
There was heavy rain on the 12th.
Snow / Ice
The Midland railway was affected as snow at higher altitudes caused delays.
Heavy Rain
at
Greymouth
Greymouth recorded 4.65 in (11.81 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Greymouth recorded 6.31 in (16.03 cm) of rain in 48 hours.
Flooding
In Greymouth and the surrounding districts, flooding, numerous slips and washouts blocked roads.
In Greymouth, the Grey River rose within 3 ft (0.91 m) of the wharf.
Minor flooding occurred in the lower portions of Greymouth.
Several coalmines were idle due to slips and washouts occurring on the railway line.
The damage to Grey county roads was £1622 ($125,200 2009 dollars).
Landslide
There were small slips in the area.
Flooding
at
Inangahua
9 ft (2.74 m) of water covered the road to Nelson in Inangahua.
Buller Gorge road was blocked by flood waters and slips.
The damage to the roads in Inangahua county was £1100 ($84,900 2009 dollars).
Landslide
Many roads in the area were blocked by slips.
Heavy Rain
at
Karamea
Karamea recorded 3.20 in (8.13 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Heavy Rain
at
Millerton
Millerton recorded 5.84 in (14.83 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Heavy Rain
at
Reefton
Reefton recorded 4.19 in (10.64 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Heavy Rain
at
Rewanui
Rewanui recorded 7.4 in (18.80 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Rewanui recorded 11.64 in (29.57 cm) of rain in 48 hours.
Heavy Rain
at
Westport
Westport recorded 3.65 in (9.27 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
There was heavy rain in the Buller area.
Flooding
Flooding occurred in the lower-lying parts of Westport.
Buller River was in high flood and the level was very near the decking of the wharf.
References
- Cowie, C.A.: Attwood, A.K. (1957) Floods in New Zealand 1920-53, The Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand, p.239.