NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
July 1966 North Island Storm
(
1966-07-19
)
Floods, blizzards and high winds wreaked havoc throughout the North Island. A man was killed in Otorohanga after he was hit by a falling branch.
North Island
Multi Hazard
at
North Island
Duration: 2 days - Floods, blizzards and high winds wreaked havoc throughout the North Island from the 19th to the 20th of July 1966.
On the night of the 19th, a deep vigorous depression centred west of Northland was moving slowly south-eastward. On the night of the 20th, the depression north-east of Auckland was moving further away. An anticyclone over the south Tasman Sea was moving toward the South Island.
Northland
Heavy Rain
at
Whangarei
Whangarei recorded 1.91 in (4.85 cm) of rain in 24 hours to 9am on the 20th.
Auckland
Flooding
at
Auckland
Floods blocked the road between Warkworth and Kaipara Flats.
High Wind / Gust
at
Auckland International Airport
Auckland International airport was closed to Friendships and DC3s after cross-winds were considered to dangerous for the aircrafts.
Landslide
at
Dome Valley
A slip in the Dome Valley region bocked the main road between Auckland and Whangarei.
Heavy Rain
at
Great Barrier Island
Great Barrier Island recorded 3.14 in (7.98 cm) of rain in 24 hours to 9am on the 20th.
Heavy Rain
at
Little Barrier Island
Little Barrier Island recorded 2.61 in (6.63 cm) of rain in 24 hours to 9am on the 20th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Papakura
A carpenter was injured working on a pre-built house in Papakura on the 19th. He was pinned beneath the house for 45 minutes when strong winds blew the house off its temporary foundations.
Flooding
at
Puhoi
Water from the Puhoi River overflowed across the main road in the Puhoi township. A traffic bridge was submerged to the handrails and a jetty was covered by water.
Water covered many low-lying areas of Puhoi. More than a foot (0.3 m) of water covered the floor of the old stone library.
Flooded creeks in Puhoi Valley were the cause of at least 20 sheep being lost. A Puhoi Valley farmer lost 48 lambs which either were drowned or died from exposure on his farm.
Heavy Rain
at
Waiwera
Upper Waiwera recorded 2.5 in (6.35 cm) of rain in four hours.
Flooding
The Upper Waiwera school was closed for the day. More than 60 pupils of the Orewa District High School could not be picked up by the school bus.
There was water 5 ft (1.52 m) deep covering the Waiwera-Helensville highway at Upper Waiwera on the afternoon of the 19th.
Waikato
High Wind / Gust
at
Chateau Tongariro
70 to 80 mph (113-129 km/hr) winds were recorded at the Chateau which eased later to gusts of 60 mph (97 km/hr).
Two cars were blown against banks on the road to the Chateau. Because of the strong winds and dangerous surface the road was closed to all traffic.
Snow / Ice
The Chateau received 4 in (10 cm) of snow on the 19th. A great proportion of the snow had been blown from the mountain.
Flooding
at
Coromandel
There was considerable surface water in some places on the Coromandel road, particularly near the junction of route 309.
High Wind / Gust
at
Hikutaia
An implement shed 30 ft by 20 ft was blown 30 ft (9 m) away.
High Wind / Gust
at
Huntly
Several power poles in Huntly were blown down.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Kawhia
Small launches were dragged from their moorings and washed up on the beach.
High Wind / Gust
at
Kerepehi
Several farm buildings sustained severe damage while many have had portions of the sheathing torn away.
Flooding
at
Kuaotunu
Flooding was severe at Kuaotunu.
The school bus was unable to get through from Kuaotunu.
Two Coromandel County Council trucks were hurled into the river when the Kuaotunu bridge collapsed beneath them. The occupants escaped unhurt.
Landslide
There were many slips on the Kuaotunu Hill Road, one of which was very large and took several days to clear. The Kuaotunu Hill Road was estimated to be blocked for two weeks until the slips were cleared.
High Wind / Gust
at
Netherton
Four trees were blown down at Netherton which blocked the Auckland-Tauranga highway for about three hours and the telephone services were disrupted over a wide area.
Flooding
at
Ngaruawahia
The Waikato River rose 5 ft (1.52 m) above its normal winter level at Ngaruawahia.
High Wind / Gust
at
Otorohanga
A 28 year old Otorohanga man was killed by a falling branch at the height of the storm.
High Wind / Gust
at
Paeroa
An iron roof from a timber yard shed was hurled over two buildings, snapped off the top of a concrete power pole and flew over a busy street before landing across the railway lines.
Power lines were broken by flying debris.
High Wind / Gust
at
Puru
The roof of a carport of a house was blown off, and a garage in the same area was shifted on its foundations.
Flooding
at
Rangiriri
The Waikato River rose 4 ft (1.22 m) above its normal winter level at Rangiriri.
High Wind / Gust
at
Te Aroha
The roof of the Te Aroha College changing rooms and school baths was blown off.
High Wind / Gust
at
Te Kuiti
A grandstand at Rugby Park was blown off its foundations. The damage is estimated to be about £200 to £300 ($6700-10,100 2010 dollars).
The main highway between Hamilton and Te Kuiti was blocked north of Otorohanga by uprooted trees.
Gale force winds disrupted power supplies.
There was considerable damage to private property in and around Te Kuiti. A roof of a house was blown off and several garages callapsed. Two wool-sheds were blown over and the another one lost its roof. Many windows, several TV aerials and glass doors were lost.
Trees and shrubs were uprooted in the storm.
Multi Hazard
at
Thames
High winds accompanied by intermittent heavy rain hit the Thames district on the 19th.
High Wind / Gust
In the Thames Valley area roofs were blown off, trees were uprooted, and power lines were dislocated in many places. Throughout the farming area there were numerous hay barns with either roofs removed or sheets of iron ripped off. A tremendous number of trees were blown down disrupting the service lines in the area. Many farm shelter trees were blown down, while home gardens received a severe battering.
The roof of the St. George's Church Hall roof was in danger of blowing off but was held successfully after emergency repairs.
Television aerials were blown down in several areas, and power failed for a short time on part of the coast.
High Wind / Gust
at
Waitakaruru
The roof of a large shed was removed by the wind.
Multi Hazard
at
Whitianga
All roads leading from Whitianga were blocked by slips and floods on the 19th.
The storm was unique in the fact that it came from a south to south east direction , while previous storms almost always came from the east or north east.
Flooding
The storm caused widespread flooding in Mercury Bay area, but conditions were worst at Whenuakite, Coroglen and Kuaotunu than they were at Whitianga.
Hardly a home escaped damage to floor coverings caused by water driven under door and window sills.
Landslide
A man was injured after he was buried up to his chest by a slip on Kuaotunu Road, near Whitianga.
High Wind / Gust
One and two windows were broken but little structural damage resulted in the township.
Bay of Plenty
High Wind / Gust
at
Papamoa
A falling tree shut off power supply to the television translator at Papamoa.
Gisborne
Heavy Rain
at
Gisborne city
Gisborne recorded 2.97 in (7.54 cm) of rain in 24 hours to 9am on the 20th.
Hawke's Bay
Landslide
at
Wairoa
Heavy rain in the Wairoa district caused a slip at the southern end of the Tarawa deviation, between Wairoa and Gisborne.
Taranaki
High Wind / Gust
at
New Plymouth
Winds gusting to 65 mph (105 km/hr) were recorded at New Plymouth airport, but the airport remained open.
Manawatu-Wanganui
High Wind / Gust
at
Manawatu-Wanganui
About 200 cars were halted for two hours on the main highway between Taumarunui and National Park when the road was blocked by fallen trees. Motorists were warned to take extreme caution on Highway 47, between National Park and Turangi, as power poles were being blown across the road.
Snow / Ice
The Desert Road was closed by snow 12 inches (0.3 m) deep
Snow / Ice
at
Waiouru
Snow up to 3 ft (0.91 m) deep in places coated Waiouru Military Camp on the morning of the 20th.
Wellington
Snow / Ice
at
Wellington city
There was a once-in-a-decade snowstorm in Wellington.
Karori residents had patches of icy snow over lawns and hedges. Light powderings of snow covered the hills above Karori and snow lay for a time on the Tinakori hills and other heights above the city. Snow mixed with sleet and rain fell and settled for a time at Kelburn, Brooklyn and Wellington airport just above sea level.
Multi Hazard
The storm disrupted the Cook Strait ferry service.
References
- Headline: Church Hall Roof Endangered By Yesterday's High Winds.
- Thames Star, 20 July (Wednesday) 1966.
- Headline: Storm Brings Considerable Minor Damage.
- Thames Star, 20 July (Wednesday) 1966.
- Headline: Widespread Flooding In The Bay Area.
- Thames Star, 20 July (Wednesday) 1966.
- Headline: Storm Damage Extensive Throughout Tthames Valley Area.
- Thames Star, 21 July (Thursday) 1966.
- Headline: Buried to chest in slip.
- The New Zealand Herald, 20 July (Wednesday) 1966.
- Headline: Carpenter pinned by house.
- The New Zealand Herald, 20 July (Wednesday) 1966.
- Headline: Couple flee marooned land rover.
- The New Zealand Herald, 20 July (Wednesday) 1966.
- Headline: South Pacific weather at 6 p.m. yesterday.
- The New Zealand Herald, 20 July (Wednesday) 1966.
- Headline: Tree Kills Man During Storm, Foot-Deep Snow Closes Desert Road.
- The New Zealand Herald, 20 July (Wednesday) 1966.
- Headline: North Island ravaged By Storms.
- The New Zealand Herald, 21 July (Thursday) 1966.
- Headline: South pacific weather at 6p.m. yesterday.
- The New Zealand Herald, 21 July (Thursday) 1966.
- Headline: Gale-Force Winds Sweep Te Kuiti.
- Waikato Times, 21 July (Thursday) 1966.
July 1966 North Island Storm
(
1966-07-19
)
Floods, blizzards and high winds wreaked havoc throughout the North Island. A man was killed in Otorohanga after he was hit by a falling branch.
North Island
Multi Hazard
at
North Island
Duration: 2 days - Floods, blizzards and high winds wreaked havoc throughout the North Island from the 19th to the 20th of July 1966.
On the night of the 19th, a deep vigorous depression centred west of Northland was moving slowly south-eastward. On the night of the 20th, the depression north-east of Auckland was moving further away. An anticyclone over the south Tasman Sea was moving toward the South Island.
Northland
Heavy Rain
at
Whangarei
Whangarei recorded 1.91 in (4.85 cm) of rain in 24 hours to 9am on the 20th.
Auckland
Flooding
at
Auckland
Floods blocked the road between Warkworth and Kaipara Flats.
High Wind / Gust
at
Auckland International Airport
Auckland International airport was closed to Friendships and DC3s after cross-winds were considered to dangerous for the aircrafts.
Landslide
at
Dome Valley
A slip in the Dome Valley region bocked the main road between Auckland and Whangarei.
Heavy Rain
at
Great Barrier Island
Great Barrier Island recorded 3.14 in (7.98 cm) of rain in 24 hours to 9am on the 20th.
Heavy Rain
at
Little Barrier Island
Little Barrier Island recorded 2.61 in (6.63 cm) of rain in 24 hours to 9am on the 20th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Papakura
A carpenter was injured working on a pre-built house in Papakura on the 19th. He was pinned beneath the house for 45 minutes when strong winds blew the house off its temporary foundations.
Flooding
at
Puhoi
Water from the Puhoi River overflowed across the main road in the Puhoi township. A traffic bridge was submerged to the handrails and a jetty was covered by water.
Water covered many low-lying areas of Puhoi. More than a foot (0.3 m) of water covered the floor of the old stone library.
Flooded creeks in Puhoi Valley were the cause of at least 20 sheep being lost. A Puhoi Valley farmer lost 48 lambs which either were drowned or died from exposure on his farm.
Heavy Rain
at
Waiwera
Upper Waiwera recorded 2.5 in (6.35 cm) of rain in four hours.
Flooding
The Upper Waiwera school was closed for the day. More than 60 pupils of the Orewa District High School could not be picked up by the school bus.
There was water 5 ft (1.52 m) deep covering the Waiwera-Helensville highway at Upper Waiwera on the afternoon of the 19th.
Waikato
High Wind / Gust
at
Chateau Tongariro
70 to 80 mph (113-129 km/hr) winds were recorded at the Chateau which eased later to gusts of 60 mph (97 km/hr).
Two cars were blown against banks on the road to the Chateau. Because of the strong winds and dangerous surface the road was closed to all traffic.
Snow / Ice
The Chateau received 4 in (10 cm) of snow on the 19th. A great proportion of the snow had been blown from the mountain.
Flooding
at
Coromandel
There was considerable surface water in some places on the Coromandel road, particularly near the junction of route 309.
High Wind / Gust
at
Hikutaia
An implement shed 30 ft by 20 ft was blown 30 ft (9 m) away.
High Wind / Gust
at
Huntly
Several power poles in Huntly were blown down.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Kawhia
Small launches were dragged from their moorings and washed up on the beach.
High Wind / Gust
at
Kerepehi
Several farm buildings sustained severe damage while many have had portions of the sheathing torn away.
Flooding
at
Kuaotunu
Flooding was severe at Kuaotunu.
The school bus was unable to get through from Kuaotunu.
Two Coromandel County Council trucks were hurled into the river when the Kuaotunu bridge collapsed beneath them. The occupants escaped unhurt.
Landslide
There were many slips on the Kuaotunu Hill Road, one of which was very large and took several days to clear. The Kuaotunu Hill Road was estimated to be blocked for two weeks until the slips were cleared.
High Wind / Gust
at
Netherton
Four trees were blown down at Netherton which blocked the Auckland-Tauranga highway for about three hours and the telephone services were disrupted over a wide area.
Flooding
at
Ngaruawahia
The Waikato River rose 5 ft (1.52 m) above its normal winter level at Ngaruawahia.
High Wind / Gust
at
Otorohanga
A 28 year old Otorohanga man was killed by a falling branch at the height of the storm.
High Wind / Gust
at
Paeroa
An iron roof from a timber yard shed was hurled over two buildings, snapped off the top of a concrete power pole and flew over a busy street before landing across the railway lines.
Power lines were broken by flying debris.
High Wind / Gust
at
Puru
The roof of a carport of a house was blown off, and a garage in the same area was shifted on its foundations.
Flooding
at
Rangiriri
The Waikato River rose 4 ft (1.22 m) above its normal winter level at Rangiriri.
High Wind / Gust
at
Te Aroha
The roof of the Te Aroha College changing rooms and school baths was blown off.
High Wind / Gust
at
Te Kuiti
A grandstand at Rugby Park was blown off its foundations. The damage is estimated to be about £200 to £300 ($6700-10,100 2010 dollars).
The main highway between Hamilton and Te Kuiti was blocked north of Otorohanga by uprooted trees.
Gale force winds disrupted power supplies.
There was considerable damage to private property in and around Te Kuiti. A roof of a house was blown off and several garages callapsed. Two wool-sheds were blown over and the another one lost its roof. Many windows, several TV aerials and glass doors were lost.
Trees and shrubs were uprooted in the storm.
Multi Hazard
at
Thames
High winds accompanied by intermittent heavy rain hit the Thames district on the 19th.
High Wind / Gust
In the Thames Valley area roofs were blown off, trees were uprooted, and power lines were dislocated in many places. Throughout the farming area there were numerous hay barns with either roofs removed or sheets of iron ripped off. A tremendous number of trees were blown down disrupting the service lines in the area. Many farm shelter trees were blown down, while home gardens received a severe battering.
The roof of the St. George's Church Hall roof was in danger of blowing off but was held successfully after emergency repairs.
Television aerials were blown down in several areas, and power failed for a short time on part of the coast.
High Wind / Gust
at
Waitakaruru
The roof of a large shed was removed by the wind.
Multi Hazard
at
Whitianga
All roads leading from Whitianga were blocked by slips and floods on the 19th.
The storm was unique in the fact that it came from a south to south east direction , while previous storms almost always came from the east or north east.
Flooding
The storm caused widespread flooding in Mercury Bay area, but conditions were worst at Whenuakite, Coroglen and Kuaotunu than they were at Whitianga.
Hardly a home escaped damage to floor coverings caused by water driven under door and window sills.
Landslide
A man was injured after he was buried up to his chest by a slip on Kuaotunu Road, near Whitianga.
High Wind / Gust
One and two windows were broken but little structural damage resulted in the township.
Bay of Plenty
High Wind / Gust
at
Papamoa
A falling tree shut off power supply to the television translator at Papamoa.
Gisborne
Heavy Rain
at
Gisborne city
Gisborne recorded 2.97 in (7.54 cm) of rain in 24 hours to 9am on the 20th.
Hawke's Bay
Landslide
at
Wairoa
Heavy rain in the Wairoa district caused a slip at the southern end of the Tarawa deviation, between Wairoa and Gisborne.
Taranaki
High Wind / Gust
at
New Plymouth
Winds gusting to 65 mph (105 km/hr) were recorded at New Plymouth airport, but the airport remained open.
Manawatu-Wanganui
High Wind / Gust
at
Manawatu-Wanganui
About 200 cars were halted for two hours on the main highway between Taumarunui and National Park when the road was blocked by fallen trees. Motorists were warned to take extreme caution on Highway 47, between National Park and Turangi, as power poles were being blown across the road.
Snow / Ice
The Desert Road was closed by snow 12 inches (0.3 m) deep
Snow / Ice
at
Waiouru
Snow up to 3 ft (0.91 m) deep in places coated Waiouru Military Camp on the morning of the 20th.
Wellington
Snow / Ice
at
Wellington city
There was a once-in-a-decade snowstorm in Wellington.
Karori residents had patches of icy snow over lawns and hedges. Light powderings of snow covered the hills above Karori and snow lay for a time on the Tinakori hills and other heights above the city. Snow mixed with sleet and rain fell and settled for a time at Kelburn, Brooklyn and Wellington airport just above sea level.
Multi Hazard
The storm disrupted the Cook Strait ferry service.
References
- Headline: Church Hall Roof Endangered By Yesterday's High Winds.
- Thames Star, 20 July (Wednesday) 1966.
- Headline: Storm Brings Considerable Minor Damage.
- Thames Star, 20 July (Wednesday) 1966.
- Headline: Widespread Flooding In The Bay Area.
- Thames Star, 20 July (Wednesday) 1966.
- Headline: Storm Damage Extensive Throughout Tthames Valley Area.
- Thames Star, 21 July (Thursday) 1966.
- Headline: Buried to chest in slip.
- The New Zealand Herald, 20 July (Wednesday) 1966.
- Headline: Carpenter pinned by house.
- The New Zealand Herald, 20 July (Wednesday) 1966.
- Headline: Couple flee marooned land rover.
- The New Zealand Herald, 20 July (Wednesday) 1966.
- Headline: South Pacific weather at 6 p.m. yesterday.
- The New Zealand Herald, 20 July (Wednesday) 1966.
- Headline: Tree Kills Man During Storm, Foot-Deep Snow Closes Desert Road.
- The New Zealand Herald, 20 July (Wednesday) 1966.
- Headline: North Island ravaged By Storms.
- The New Zealand Herald, 21 July (Thursday) 1966.
- Headline: South pacific weather at 6p.m. yesterday.
- The New Zealand Herald, 21 July (Thursday) 1966.
- Headline: Gale-Force Winds Sweep Te Kuiti.
- Waikato Times, 21 July (Thursday) 1966.