NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue

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ModerateJuly 1947 North Island Flooding ( 1947-07-01 )

North Island

Multi HazardMulti Hazard at North Island
Comments:

CauseA low pressure area, which early on the afternoon of the 3rd was in the Bay of Islands district was responsible for the weather. On the 2nd, when it was north over the Dominion, it affected conditions over the northern half of the North Island, and on the 3rd a similar area experienced the heavy rainfall, The depression was almost stationary in the afternoon and its general slow movement was in a south-south-east direction.

DurationThe weather event lasted from the 1st to the 4th July 1947.

Northland

Heavy RainHeavy Rain at Northland
Comments:

CommentAlthough there was heavy rain in the Far North there was no flooding.

FloodingFlooding at Dargaville
Map Location: -35.944137 173.869958
Comments:

CommentRivers were high and low-lying land around Dargaville was flooded on the 3rd, but no traffic was delayed.

LandslideLandslide at Waipu
Map Location: -35.985133 174.45213
Comments:

Affected LifelineThe Waipu-Maungaturoto road was closed by a slip in the Waipu Gorge.

Heavy RainHeavy Rain at Whangarei
Map Location: -35.719519 174.298397
Comments:

Physical CharacteristicWhangarei recorded nearly 2 in (5.08 cm) of rain from the 2nd to the morning of the 3rd.

Auckland

Heavy RainHeavy Rain at Auckland City
Map Location: -36.852397 174.762337
Comments:

Physical CharacteristicAuckland recorded 0.85 in (2.16 cm) of rain in 24 hours to midnight on the 3rd.

Multi HazardMulti Hazard
Comments:

ImpactThe weather brought the work of the port to a standstill for two days and all shipping was affected.

FloodingFlooding at Helensville
Map Location: -36.682645 174.45645
Comments:

ImpactScores of acres beside the swollen Kaipara River were flooded in the valleys south of Helensville on the 3rd. In some places the water was as high as the fence posts and only treetops visible in other places.

FloodingFlooding at Kaukapakapa
Map Location: -36.613162 174.494649
Comments:

Affected LifelineStreams were backed up over the main road a quarter of a mile south of Kaukapakapa. It was impassable to cars for a time.

LandslideLandslide
Comments:

Affected LifelineRising waters in the Kaukapakapa district caused a slip on the railway line between Tahekeroa and Ahuroa on the 2nd.

Waikato

Heavy RainHeavy Rain at Paeroa
Map Location: -37.373937 175.671378
Comments:

ImpactContinuous heavy rain fell at Paeroa and on the Hauraki Plains for two days, and large areas of land were flooded.

Physical CharacteristicPaeroa recorded 3.82 in (9.70 cm) of rain in 24 hours to 9 a.m. on the 3rd.

Physical CharacteristicPaeroa recorded 6.21 in (15.77 cm) of rain from the 1st to the 3rd.

FloodingFlooding
Comments:

Affected LifelineThe main highway from Paeroa to Waihi was flooded in parts.

CommentRivers were not in full flood.

ImpactLow lying flat paddocks on either side of the main roads out of Paeroa were all carrying a fair amount of water.

Affected LifelineAt the corner of Belmont Road and Corbett Street the water rose over the footpath. Half a dozen sections were surrounded by water up to 2 ft (0.61 m). The sections surrounding the sawmill in Taylor Avenue and running right back from there across Rye Lane were all about two feet (0.61 m) deep in water. On the Waihi road in front of the Paeroa maternity hospital water lay across the road a foot (0.3 m) deep. On the Thames road water was across the road in several places. At the junction of Bennett Street deep water lay on adjacent fields. From the rise in Bennett Street looking towards Station Road all the paddocks appeared to be under water. The valley to the east of Bennett Street was flooded up to a foot (0.3 m) deep. There was some flooding on Puke Road and Hubbard's Road.

ImpactFarms at Komata North and Awaiti were under water.

FloodingFlooding at Tararu
Map Location: -37.111701 175.512923
Comments:

CommentThere was a fair amount of surface water at Tararu.

Heavy RainHeavy Rain at Thames
Map Location: -37.140988 175.533107
Comments:

Physical CharacteristicThe Parawai climatological station recorded 1.60 in (4.06 cm) of rain in 24 hours to 9 a.m. on the 4th.

Physical CharacteristicThe Parawai climatological station recorded 3.03 in (7.70 cm) of rain in 24 hours to 9 a.m. on the 3rd.

Multi HazardMulti Hazard
Comments:

ImpactFlooding following heavy rain and high tides over two days (2 and 3 June).

Affected LifelineThe Thames-Coromandel road was blocked as a result of a slip on Keretu Hill, flooding at Manaia, and a bridge being washed out near Coromandel.

FloodingFlooding
Comments:

ImpactFarmlands were under water in several parts of the province, but no serious losses were reported.

Affected LifelineThe bridge over the Waiau Stream was damaged by flood waters.

ImpactThe Kauaeranga River swept over its banks on the 3rd and inundated hundreds of acres in the borough, and to the south in Thames County.

ImpactThe southern part of the suburb of Parawai was flooded and several houses surrounded.

ImpactHape Creek was flooded and surrounded the houses between the Rolleston Street bridge and the suburb of Shortland.

ImpactKaraka Creek was running almost bank high. Other smaller streams in the borough were all bank high, and in some parts were overflowing.

Affected LifelineQueen Street was under water from Shortland to Sealey Street.

Affected LifelineThe south highway between the bridge and Kopu was under water in four places.

Affected LifelineThe Puru stream flooded and swept over Mitchell's Block and inundated it to a large extent. Water crossed the Thames coast road to a depth of six inches (15 cm) in the hollow near the bridge.

LandslideLandslide
Comments:

Affected LifelineA large slip occurred in the Thames borough, 200 yards south of Una Hill Mine. Debris blocked Hill Street and surrounded a house.

Affected LifelineThe Kauaranga Valley road was blocked by slips.

Gisborne

Heavy RainHeavy Rain at Gisborne City
Map Location: -38.656661 178.017356
Comments:

Physical CharacteristicThe hill country near Gisborne received over 3.5 in (8.89 cm) of rain in 12 hours.

Physical CharacteristicGisborne recorded close to 2 in (5.08 cm) of rain in 12 hours.

High Wind GustsHigh Wind / Gust
Comments:

CommentThe rain was accompanied by gusty southerly winds.

FloodingFlooding
Comments:

Affected LifelineAll road outlets from Gisborne were blocked on the 4th following heavy overnight rain throughout the district.

Affected LifelineThe north route from Gisborne was impassable with 3.5 feet (1.07 m) of water over one bridge.

Physical CharacteristicThe Waipaoa River had risen 17 ft (5.2 m) on the morning of the 4th.

Affected LifelineOn the east coast, the main road was blocked by overflowing creeks beyond Tokomaru Bay.

Affected LifelineThe railway line to the south was clear, but on the branch line the train was unable to cross a flooded bridge at Puha.

FloodingFlooding at Te Arai
Map Location: -38.67828 177.92787
Comments:

ImpactSettlers at Te Arai were isolated.

FloodingFlooding at Whatatutu
Map Location: -38.383396 177.836989
Comments:

ImpactThe Waikohu and Mangatu Rivers were running high. The Waikohu spilled over the road at Whatatutu.

Wellington

FloodingFlooding at Lake Wairarapa
Map Location: -41.207855 175.248076
Comments:

CommentThe flood waters of Lake Wairarapa were slowly receding on 1 July 1947.

CommentThousands of sheep and cattle were still marooned.

CommentThe channel to Lake Onoke was not wide enough to allow sufficient water to flow towards the sea.

ImpactTwelve people were marooned on a small island on the 1st.

ImpactMost of the farm houses in the lower areas were still uninhabitable due to flood waters on the 1st.

ImpactThere were heavy losses of feed for farmers.

References

Headline: Highway Closed, Truck Falls into Flood.
Hauraki Plains Gazette, 4 July (Friday) 1947.
Headline: Storm Damage, Trouble for Power Board.
Hauraki Plains Gazette, 4 July (Friday) 1947.
Headline: Two Days of Rain, Steady Fall in Paeroa, Extensive Flooding.
Hauraki Plains Gazette, 4 July (Friday) 1947.
Headline: Hundreds of Arces Under Water.
Thames Star, 3 July (Thursday) 1947.
Headline: Gisborne Isolated, All Roads Blocked, Overnight Storm Damage.
Thames Star, 4 July (Friday) 1947.
Headline: Nearly 5 Inches of rain, Fall in Thames Area.
Thames Star, 4 July (Friday) 1947.
Headline: Road Badly Damaged, Thames to Coromandel.
Thames Star, 4 July (Friday) 1947.
Headline: Kauaeranga Overflows Banks.
The New Zealand Herald, 4 July (Friday) 1947.
Headline: Waters Receding, The Wairarapa Flood, Stock Still Marooned.
The New Zealand Herald, 4 July (Friday) 1947.
Headline:Floods and Rain, Two Trains Delayed, Troubles in North.
The New Zealand Herald, 4 July (Friday) 1947.

ModerateJuly 1947 North Island Flooding ( 1947-07-01 )

North Island

Multi HazardMulti Hazard at North Island
Comments:

CauseA low pressure area, which early on the afternoon of the 3rd was in the Bay of Islands district was responsible for the weather. On the 2nd, when it was north over the Dominion, it affected conditions over the northern half of the North Island, and on the 3rd a similar area experienced the heavy rainfall, The depression was almost stationary in the afternoon and its general slow movement was in a south-south-east direction.

DurationThe weather event lasted from the 1st to the 4th July 1947.

Northland

Heavy RainHeavy Rain at Northland
Comments:

CommentAlthough there was heavy rain in the Far North there was no flooding.

FloodingFlooding at Dargaville
Map Location: -35.944137 173.869958
Comments:

CommentRivers were high and low-lying land around Dargaville was flooded on the 3rd, but no traffic was delayed.

LandslideLandslide at Waipu
Map Location: -35.985133 174.45213
Comments:

Affected LifelineThe Waipu-Maungaturoto road was closed by a slip in the Waipu Gorge.

Heavy RainHeavy Rain at Whangarei
Map Location: -35.719519 174.298397
Comments:

Physical CharacteristicWhangarei recorded nearly 2 in (5.08 cm) of rain from the 2nd to the morning of the 3rd.

Auckland

Heavy RainHeavy Rain at Auckland City
Map Location: -36.852397 174.762337
Comments:

Physical CharacteristicAuckland recorded 0.85 in (2.16 cm) of rain in 24 hours to midnight on the 3rd.

Multi HazardMulti Hazard
Comments:

ImpactThe weather brought the work of the port to a standstill for two days and all shipping was affected.

FloodingFlooding at Helensville
Map Location: -36.682645 174.45645
Comments:

ImpactScores of acres beside the swollen Kaipara River were flooded in the valleys south of Helensville on the 3rd. In some places the water was as high as the fence posts and only treetops visible in other places.

FloodingFlooding at Kaukapakapa
Map Location: -36.613162 174.494649
Comments:

Affected LifelineStreams were backed up over the main road a quarter of a mile south of Kaukapakapa. It was impassable to cars for a time.

LandslideLandslide
Comments:

Affected LifelineRising waters in the Kaukapakapa district caused a slip on the railway line between Tahekeroa and Ahuroa on the 2nd.

Waikato

Heavy RainHeavy Rain at Paeroa
Map Location: -37.373937 175.671378
Comments:

ImpactContinuous heavy rain fell at Paeroa and on the Hauraki Plains for two days, and large areas of land were flooded.

Physical CharacteristicPaeroa recorded 3.82 in (9.70 cm) of rain in 24 hours to 9 a.m. on the 3rd.

Physical CharacteristicPaeroa recorded 6.21 in (15.77 cm) of rain from the 1st to the 3rd.

FloodingFlooding
Comments:

Affected LifelineThe main highway from Paeroa to Waihi was flooded in parts.

CommentRivers were not in full flood.

ImpactLow lying flat paddocks on either side of the main roads out of Paeroa were all carrying a fair amount of water.

Affected LifelineAt the corner of Belmont Road and Corbett Street the water rose over the footpath. Half a dozen sections were surrounded by water up to 2 ft (0.61 m). The sections surrounding the sawmill in Taylor Avenue and running right back from there across Rye Lane were all about two feet (0.61 m) deep in water. On the Waihi road in front of the Paeroa maternity hospital water lay across the road a foot (0.3 m) deep. On the Thames road water was across the road in several places. At the junction of Bennett Street deep water lay on adjacent fields. From the rise in Bennett Street looking towards Station Road all the paddocks appeared to be under water. The valley to the east of Bennett Street was flooded up to a foot (0.3 m) deep. There was some flooding on Puke Road and Hubbard's Road.

ImpactFarms at Komata North and Awaiti were under water.

FloodingFlooding at Tararu
Map Location: -37.111701 175.512923
Comments:

CommentThere was a fair amount of surface water at Tararu.

Heavy RainHeavy Rain at Thames
Map Location: -37.140988 175.533107
Comments:

Physical CharacteristicThe Parawai climatological station recorded 1.60 in (4.06 cm) of rain in 24 hours to 9 a.m. on the 4th.

Physical CharacteristicThe Parawai climatological station recorded 3.03 in (7.70 cm) of rain in 24 hours to 9 a.m. on the 3rd.

Multi HazardMulti Hazard
Comments:

ImpactFlooding following heavy rain and high tides over two days (2 and 3 June).

Affected LifelineThe Thames-Coromandel road was blocked as a result of a slip on Keretu Hill, flooding at Manaia, and a bridge being washed out near Coromandel.

FloodingFlooding
Comments:

ImpactFarmlands were under water in several parts of the province, but no serious losses were reported.

Affected LifelineThe bridge over the Waiau Stream was damaged by flood waters.

ImpactThe Kauaeranga River swept over its banks on the 3rd and inundated hundreds of acres in the borough, and to the south in Thames County.

ImpactThe southern part of the suburb of Parawai was flooded and several houses surrounded.

ImpactHape Creek was flooded and surrounded the houses between the Rolleston Street bridge and the suburb of Shortland.

ImpactKaraka Creek was running almost bank high. Other smaller streams in the borough were all bank high, and in some parts were overflowing.

Affected LifelineQueen Street was under water from Shortland to Sealey Street.

Affected LifelineThe south highway between the bridge and Kopu was under water in four places.

Affected LifelineThe Puru stream flooded and swept over Mitchell's Block and inundated it to a large extent. Water crossed the Thames coast road to a depth of six inches (15 cm) in the hollow near the bridge.

LandslideLandslide
Comments:

Affected LifelineA large slip occurred in the Thames borough, 200 yards south of Una Hill Mine. Debris blocked Hill Street and surrounded a house.

Affected LifelineThe Kauaranga Valley road was blocked by slips.

Gisborne

Heavy RainHeavy Rain at Gisborne City
Map Location: -38.656661 178.017356
Comments:

Physical CharacteristicThe hill country near Gisborne received over 3.5 in (8.89 cm) of rain in 12 hours.

Physical CharacteristicGisborne recorded close to 2 in (5.08 cm) of rain in 12 hours.

High Wind GustsHigh Wind / Gust
Comments:

CommentThe rain was accompanied by gusty southerly winds.

FloodingFlooding
Comments:

Affected LifelineAll road outlets from Gisborne were blocked on the 4th following heavy overnight rain throughout the district.

Affected LifelineThe north route from Gisborne was impassable with 3.5 feet (1.07 m) of water over one bridge.

Physical CharacteristicThe Waipaoa River had risen 17 ft (5.2 m) on the morning of the 4th.

Affected LifelineOn the east coast, the main road was blocked by overflowing creeks beyond Tokomaru Bay.

Affected LifelineThe railway line to the south was clear, but on the branch line the train was unable to cross a flooded bridge at Puha.

FloodingFlooding at Te Arai
Map Location: -38.67828 177.92787
Comments:

ImpactSettlers at Te Arai were isolated.

FloodingFlooding at Whatatutu
Map Location: -38.383396 177.836989
Comments:

ImpactThe Waikohu and Mangatu Rivers were running high. The Waikohu spilled over the road at Whatatutu.

Wellington

FloodingFlooding at Lake Wairarapa
Map Location: -41.207855 175.248076
Comments:

CommentThe flood waters of Lake Wairarapa were slowly receding on 1 July 1947.

CommentThousands of sheep and cattle were still marooned.

CommentThe channel to Lake Onoke was not wide enough to allow sufficient water to flow towards the sea.

ImpactTwelve people were marooned on a small island on the 1st.

ImpactMost of the farm houses in the lower areas were still uninhabitable due to flood waters on the 1st.

ImpactThere were heavy losses of feed for farmers.

References

Headline: Highway Closed, Truck Falls into Flood.
Hauraki Plains Gazette, 4 July (Friday) 1947.
Headline: Storm Damage, Trouble for Power Board.
Hauraki Plains Gazette, 4 July (Friday) 1947.
Headline: Two Days of Rain, Steady Fall in Paeroa, Extensive Flooding.
Hauraki Plains Gazette, 4 July (Friday) 1947.
Headline: Hundreds of Arces Under Water.
Thames Star, 3 July (Thursday) 1947.
Headline: Gisborne Isolated, All Roads Blocked, Overnight Storm Damage.
Thames Star, 4 July (Friday) 1947.
Headline: Nearly 5 Inches of rain, Fall in Thames Area.
Thames Star, 4 July (Friday) 1947.
Headline: Road Badly Damaged, Thames to Coromandel.
Thames Star, 4 July (Friday) 1947.
Headline: Kauaeranga Overflows Banks.
The New Zealand Herald, 4 July (Friday) 1947.
Headline: Waters Receding, The Wairarapa Flood, Stock Still Marooned.
The New Zealand Herald, 4 July (Friday) 1947.
Headline:Floods and Rain, Two Trains Delayed, Troubles in North.
The New Zealand Herald, 4 July (Friday) 1947.