NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
July 1958 Bay of Plenty and Marlborough Flooding ( 1958-07-18 )
There was severe flooding in Opotiki after heavy rain. There was moderate flooding in the Havelock and Canvastown areas in Marlborough.
Bay of Plenty
Multi Hazard
at
Bay of Plenty
Heavy rain following the passing of a cold front moving from the west gave rise to major floods in Waioeka, Otara and Motu Rivers on 19 July 1958.
Heavy Rain
Most of the heavier rain fell in unoccupied high country and only limited rainfall information is available. The Opotiki gauge was damaged. Rainfalls that were recorded were on the fringe of the main rainfall area.
Heavy Rain
at
Kukumoa
Kukumoa recorded 0.28 in (0.71 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 16th.
Kukumoa recorded 0.85 in (2.16 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 17th.
Kukumoa recorded 2.15 in (5.46 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 18th.
Kukumoa recorded 0.67 in (1.70 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 19th.
Flooding
at
Motu River
Motu River had a discharge of 67,500 cusecs (1911 cumecs) at the Houpoto Recorder on 19 July. The gauge height was 19.6 ft (5.97 m) and the catchment area was 565 sq miles (1463 km^2).
Flooding
at
Opotiki
There was particularly severe flooding in Opotiki Borough for the fourth time in 14 months.
Waioeka and Otara stopbanks, within and just outside the borough, were overtopped and damaged.
The flooding in Opotiki was more severe and widespread than the major May 1957 and Feb 1958 floods.
The business section of town was inundated to depths of up to 4 1/2 ft (1.37 m), reputed to be only 6 in (0.15 m) less than the noteworthy 1918 flood.
For the first time practically the whole of the area between the wharf and Otara highway bridge and towards the sea was under water some inches deep.
Conditions prevailed for only a few hours.
Otara River had a discharge of 20,000 cusecs (566 cumecs) at Opotiki on 19 July.
Heavy Rain
at
Te Miro
Te Miro-Motu recorded 1.33 in (3.38 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 16th.
Te Miro-Motu recorded 1.63 in (4.14 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 17th.
Te Miro-Motu recorded 4.48 in (11.38 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 18th.
Te Miro-Motu recorded 41.70 in (105.92 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 19th.
Flooding
at
Waioeka River
Waioeka River had a discharge of 67,000 cusecs (1897 cumecs) at the Gorge Recorder on 19 July. The gauge height was 24.9 ft (7.59 m) and the catchment area 275 sq miles (712 km^2).
Marlborough
Heavy Rain
at
Marlborough
A depression travelling from the northwest over central districts of New Zealand brought moderate to heavy rain over much of the Havelock and Canvastown district on the 18th and 19th July 1958.
Flooding
The heavy rain gave rise to moderate flash floods in most rivers.
Flooding
at
Pelorus River
Pelorus River was in high flood and covered most of the valley floor between Havelock and Canvastown from hill to hill.
The flood peaked at 6 a.m. on the 19th. By 4:30 p.m. the river had fallen approximately 5 ft (1.52 m).
During the height of the flood the state highway in this area was blocked in several places.
Pelorus River had a discharge of 39,400 cusecs (1116 cumecs) at Delanys Swing Bridge on 19 July. The catchment area was 250 sq miles (647 km^2).
Flooding
at
Wairau River
The tributary streams of the Wairau peaked in the early hours of the 19th.
Wairau River had a peak discharge of 67,864 cusecs (1922 cumecs) at Tuamarina State highway bridge shortly after noon on the 19th. The gauge height was 18.60 ft (5.67 m).
The flood in the main river and the main tributaries was contained.
Overflows from some small tributaries, such as Are Are Creek and Lamberts Creek, flooded hundreds of acres for a short time.
Damage to river works in the Wairau River was estimated at £7600 ($311,000 2010 dollars).
References
- Owen, R.E. (1960). Hydrology Annual, No.6, 1958. Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand.
July 1958 Bay of Plenty and Marlborough Flooding ( 1958-07-18 )
There was severe flooding in Opotiki after heavy rain. There was moderate flooding in the Havelock and Canvastown areas in Marlborough.
Bay of Plenty
Multi Hazard
at
Bay of Plenty
Heavy rain following the passing of a cold front moving from the west gave rise to major floods in Waioeka, Otara and Motu Rivers on 19 July 1958.
Heavy Rain
Most of the heavier rain fell in unoccupied high country and only limited rainfall information is available. The Opotiki gauge was damaged. Rainfalls that were recorded were on the fringe of the main rainfall area.
Heavy Rain
at
Kukumoa
Kukumoa recorded 0.28 in (0.71 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 16th.
Kukumoa recorded 0.85 in (2.16 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 17th.
Kukumoa recorded 2.15 in (5.46 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 18th.
Kukumoa recorded 0.67 in (1.70 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 19th.
Flooding
at
Motu River
Motu River had a discharge of 67,500 cusecs (1911 cumecs) at the Houpoto Recorder on 19 July. The gauge height was 19.6 ft (5.97 m) and the catchment area was 565 sq miles (1463 km^2).
Flooding
at
Opotiki
There was particularly severe flooding in Opotiki Borough for the fourth time in 14 months.
Waioeka and Otara stopbanks, within and just outside the borough, were overtopped and damaged.
The flooding in Opotiki was more severe and widespread than the major May 1957 and Feb 1958 floods.
The business section of town was inundated to depths of up to 4 1/2 ft (1.37 m), reputed to be only 6 in (0.15 m) less than the noteworthy 1918 flood.
For the first time practically the whole of the area between the wharf and Otara highway bridge and towards the sea was under water some inches deep.
Conditions prevailed for only a few hours.
Otara River had a discharge of 20,000 cusecs (566 cumecs) at Opotiki on 19 July.
Heavy Rain
at
Te Miro
Te Miro-Motu recorded 1.33 in (3.38 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 16th.
Te Miro-Motu recorded 1.63 in (4.14 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 17th.
Te Miro-Motu recorded 4.48 in (11.38 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 18th.
Te Miro-Motu recorded 41.70 in (105.92 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 19th.
Flooding
at
Waioeka River
Waioeka River had a discharge of 67,000 cusecs (1897 cumecs) at the Gorge Recorder on 19 July. The gauge height was 24.9 ft (7.59 m) and the catchment area 275 sq miles (712 km^2).
Marlborough
Heavy Rain
at
Marlborough
A depression travelling from the northwest over central districts of New Zealand brought moderate to heavy rain over much of the Havelock and Canvastown district on the 18th and 19th July 1958.
Flooding
The heavy rain gave rise to moderate flash floods in most rivers.
Flooding
at
Pelorus River
Pelorus River was in high flood and covered most of the valley floor between Havelock and Canvastown from hill to hill.
The flood peaked at 6 a.m. on the 19th. By 4:30 p.m. the river had fallen approximately 5 ft (1.52 m).
During the height of the flood the state highway in this area was blocked in several places.
Pelorus River had a discharge of 39,400 cusecs (1116 cumecs) at Delanys Swing Bridge on 19 July. The catchment area was 250 sq miles (647 km^2).
Flooding
at
Wairau River
The tributary streams of the Wairau peaked in the early hours of the 19th.
Wairau River had a peak discharge of 67,864 cusecs (1922 cumecs) at Tuamarina State highway bridge shortly after noon on the 19th. The gauge height was 18.60 ft (5.67 m).
The flood in the main river and the main tributaries was contained.
Overflows from some small tributaries, such as Are Are Creek and Lamberts Creek, flooded hundreds of acres for a short time.
Damage to river works in the Wairau River was estimated at £7600 ($311,000 2010 dollars).
References
- Owen, R.E. (1960). Hydrology Annual, No.6, 1958. Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand.