NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
July 2000 Upper North Island Storm
(
2000-07-01
)
Parts of Northland, Auckland and the Coromandel experienced heavy rain, high winds, marine inundations and flooding. Some coastal properties were flooded.
North Island
Multi Hazard
Duration: 4 days - From the 1st to the 4th of July.
The MetService issued Heavy Rain Warnings for Northland from Kaitaia to Whangarei, for the Coromandel and for the Kaimai Ranges.
A large high lodged firmly over southern New Zealand caused a rain band to stall over Auckland and Northland. It was a north-easterly rainstorm. Wind and rain was caught in a "squash zone" between a high and a low.
Five state highways in Northland and the Coromandel were closed at various times on the 2nd due to surface flooding and slips.
Insurance Industry Payouts for the Auckland / Coromandel floods totalled $7,600,000 ($9,515,000 2008 dollars).
Heavy Rain
Northland, Auckland and parts of the Waikato and Bay of Plenty were drenched during the weekend (1st-2nd).
Persistent rainfall over upper North Island left tradespeople and cleaners run off their feet. Many roofs could only be fixed temporarily until the heavy rain stopped.
Flooding
Emergency services in many areas were run off their feet dealing with burst drains and flooded homes.
A lot of homes that were flooded the week before were again flooded.
Landslide
Several slips on roads in Northland and Coromandel blocked roads or caused nose-to-tail accidents and delays.
Maritime / Coastal
Beach homes were threatened in exposed parts of the northern and eastern North Island.
Northland
Maritime / Coastal
at
Northland
The storm coincided with a very high spring tide, which peaked on the 4th.
South-easterly winds resulted in a significant wind set-up against the coast, elevating sea levels and wave run up around the coast.
A significant amount of erosion occurred on many sections of the Northland coastline, particularly Matapouri and Bream Bay.
Heavy Rain
The eastern hills south of the Bay of Islands through to Whangarei received about 45-60 mm (4.5-6.0 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to midnight on the 2nd.
Flooding
Flood waters swept through some Far North homes.
Multi Hazard
Several schools were closed.
Some places experienced power cuts.
High Wind / Gust
at
Bay of Islands
Winds gusted up to 60 km/hr in the Bay of Islands.
Heavy Rain
at
Kaikohe
Kaikohe recorded 11 mm (1.1 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 8am on the 3rd.
Kaikohe recorded 30 mm (3.0 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 8am on the 4th.
High Wind / Gust
Winds were gusting to 45 km/hr at Kaikohe.
Flooding
at
Maungakaramea
Maungakaramea Road adjacent to Cotton's limestone quarry had slumped by about 15 cm.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Parua Bay
A launch was driven onto rocks at Parua Bay on the morning of the 4th and was thought to have been holed.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Whangarei
At Whangarei, some flooding was experienced in and around sections of the Hatea River and Town basin area on the night of the 4th.
A pontoon was damaged in rough seas at Onerahi on the morning of the 4th.
Heavy Rain
Whangarei recorded 20 mm(2.0 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 8am on the 3rd.
Torrential rain fell at Whangarei overnight on the 3rd.
Whangarei city recorded 44 mm (4.4 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 8am on the 4th.
Whangarei recorded 47 mm (4.7 cm) of rain from 12am on the 4th to 10am on the 5th.
The eastern hills around Whangarei received up to 50 mm (5.0 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 8am on the 4th.
The Whangarei area received 130 mm (13.0 cm) of rain in the three days from the 1st to the 3rd.
Flooding
Waiarohia Stream and Raumanga Stream overflowed on the night of the 3rd, closing Commerce Street. The southern end of Hatea Drive was partially flooded and Riverside Drive had some flooding.
The water was about 20 cm deep in Commerce Street on the morning of the 4th.
There was about 30 cm of water over the A and P carpark in Dent Street.
Multi Hazard
There were also a number of small slips and fallen trees around Whangarei.
High Wind / Gust
Whangarei bore the brunt of gale-force south-easterly winds.
Landslide
Minor slips were reported on Mt Tiger Road and Patua North Road.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Whangarei Harbour
The sea level was backed up in Whangarei Harbour by nearly 0.4 m predicted tides.
Auckland
Flooding
at
Auckland
The North Shore City Council's action line received over 900 calls about surface flooding and widespread sewage overflows.
Raw sewage flowed on to beaches. The North Shore City Council closed 14 beaches from Long Bay to Stanley Bay and also Beach Haven. Sewage warning signs were also put up at Kohimarama.
Properties were flooded on the North Shore.
Auckland Carpet Steam 'N' Dry received 400 calls about flood-damaged carpets. The owner had never seen anything like it in the 12 years they had been doing flood restorations.
Coastal flooding in Auckland was caused by high tides, strong easterly winds and high river levels.
Multi Hazard
Roads were closed on the North Shore.
Heavy Rain
at
Albany Village
Albany recorded 33 mm (3.3 cm) of rain on the 30th.
Albany recorded 42 mm (4.2 cm) of rain on the 1st.
Albany recorded 32 mm (3.2 cm) of rain on the 2nd.
Ponds at the Rosedale wastewater treatment plant were swollen. On the night of the 3rd the ponds were only 180 mm away from triggering the use of an emergency spillway into local streams. Peak flows into the North Shore plant were four times greater than average. On the 5th, the pumping stations stopped overflowing for the first time in five days.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Hatfields Beach
At Hatfields Beach, an emergency rock wall and a giant sandbank had to be built between the beach and SH1 to stop the bank washing away under an unusually high tide. At the narrowiest point, just 1.5 m of the bank was left. The northern end of the beach took the worst battering.
Multi Hazard
at
Hillsborough
300-400 homes in Hillsborough were without power for five days.
Heavy Rain
at
Kaukapakapa
A Kaukapakapa farm recorded over 50 mm (5.0 cm) of rain.
Flooding
A Kaukapakapa farmer and his neighbour had to wade into freezing cold water nearly up to their necks to save sheep from a rising creek.
Heavy Rain
at
Orewa
Orewa received nearly 100 mm (10.0 cm) of rain.
Flooding
at
Waitakere
Properties were flooded in Waitakere.
Flooding
at
Whangaparaoa
The Fire Service responded to over 40 calls in Whangaparaoa and Silverdale.
Manhole covers were popping off in streets and sewage poured into streets.
Raw effluent flowed into Orewa Estuary and Stanmore Bay as sewer networks in Rodney failed to cope with the water.
Waikato
Multi Hazard
at
Waikato
Several Coromandel roads were closed by flood waters and slips.
Heavy Rain
The Coromandel Peninsula received 100 mm (10.0 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 2nd.
Torrential rain in the region abated overnight on the 3rd.
Flooding
High rainfall and widespread flooding occurred throughout the Coromandel.
Maritime / Coastal
High tides lapped over beachfront properties. At 8:30am on the 4th, the last high tide of concern lapped over beachfront properties.
Flooding
at
Cooks Beach
The rainfall created havoc at coastal properties at Cooks Beach.
Heavy Rain
at
Golden Cross
Golden Cross recorded 141 mm (14.0 cm) of rain.
Flooding
at
Hikuai
Flooding at Hikuai junction prevented access to Pauanui and Tairua for all but heavy vehicles.
Heavy Rain
at
The Pinnacles
The Pinnacles recorded 250 mm of rain (25.0 cm).
Flooding
41 tramping school studdents were stranded at The Pinnacles Hut on the night of the 3rd due to high river levels in the Kauaeranga Valley. The police helicopter airlifted seven other trampers out of the area after their cars became stuck between flooded fords.
Landslide
at
Te Kouma
A large slip blocked State Highway 25 near Te Kouma.
Landslide
at
Waiomu
Two slips covered a section of State Highway 25 between Thames and Coromandel, both coming from the same bank, the first at 11:30am and the second at 2:30pm. The road was closed between Waiomu and Tapu for about five hours.
Heavy Rain
at
Wentworth River
Upper Wentworth recorded 154 mm (15.4 cm) of rain.
Heavy Rain
at
Whitianga
Whitianga had received about 174 mm (17.4 cm) of rain by 12pm on the 3rd.
Buffalo Beach recorded 14 mm (1.4 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 1pm on the 4th.
Flooding
One Whitianga house was flooded and several others were threatened by water.
State Highway 25 south of Whitianga was closed for a brief time.
Maritime / Coastal
Damage to Buffalo Beach's seawall was limited to some heavy erosion.
References
- Bell, R.; Gorman, R. Overview of Weather and Coastal Hazards in the Northland Region. Part II: Coastal.
- Environment Waikato. State of Emergency Declarations in the district since 1976.
- Insurance Councils, The Cost of Weather Loses, Claim history (Updated 2004).
- www.metservice, notable weather events.govt.nz
- Headline: Worst over, say forecasters.
- The Northern Advcoate, 3 July 2000.
- Headline: More city flooding forecast: King tide, deluge spell trouble.
- The Northern Advcoate, 4 July 2000.
- Headline: High tides could still cause flooding.
- The Northern Advcoate, 5 July 2000.
- Headline: Up to our ears in rain.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 3 July 2000.
- Headline: Coromandel flounders beneath deluge.
- The New Zealand Herald, 4 July 2000.
- Headline: Frazzled time as bad weather and holidays coincide.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 4 July 2000.
- Headline: Fears for trees at storm-hit bay.
- The New Zealand Herald, 5 July 2000.
- Headline: Peninsula gives sighs of relief as big wet ends.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 5 July 2000.
- Headline: Recent rain highlights fragile wastewater system.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 8 July 2000.
- Headline: Waikato escapes the worst of deluge.
- The Waikato Times, 3 July 2000.
July 2000 Upper North Island Storm
(
2000-07-01
)
Parts of Northland, Auckland and the Coromandel experienced heavy rain, high winds, marine inundations and flooding. Some coastal properties were flooded.
North Island
Multi Hazard
Duration: 4 days - From the 1st to the 4th of July.
The MetService issued Heavy Rain Warnings for Northland from Kaitaia to Whangarei, for the Coromandel and for the Kaimai Ranges.
A large high lodged firmly over southern New Zealand caused a rain band to stall over Auckland and Northland. It was a north-easterly rainstorm. Wind and rain was caught in a "squash zone" between a high and a low.
Five state highways in Northland and the Coromandel were closed at various times on the 2nd due to surface flooding and slips.
Insurance Industry Payouts for the Auckland / Coromandel floods totalled $7,600,000 ($9,515,000 2008 dollars).
Heavy Rain
Northland, Auckland and parts of the Waikato and Bay of Plenty were drenched during the weekend (1st-2nd).
Persistent rainfall over upper North Island left tradespeople and cleaners run off their feet. Many roofs could only be fixed temporarily until the heavy rain stopped.
Flooding
Emergency services in many areas were run off their feet dealing with burst drains and flooded homes.
A lot of homes that were flooded the week before were again flooded.
Landslide
Several slips on roads in Northland and Coromandel blocked roads or caused nose-to-tail accidents and delays.
Maritime / Coastal
Beach homes were threatened in exposed parts of the northern and eastern North Island.
Northland
Maritime / Coastal
at
Northland
The storm coincided with a very high spring tide, which peaked on the 4th.
South-easterly winds resulted in a significant wind set-up against the coast, elevating sea levels and wave run up around the coast.
A significant amount of erosion occurred on many sections of the Northland coastline, particularly Matapouri and Bream Bay.
Heavy Rain
The eastern hills south of the Bay of Islands through to Whangarei received about 45-60 mm (4.5-6.0 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to midnight on the 2nd.
Flooding
Flood waters swept through some Far North homes.
Multi Hazard
Several schools were closed.
Some places experienced power cuts.
High Wind / Gust
at
Bay of Islands
Winds gusted up to 60 km/hr in the Bay of Islands.
Heavy Rain
at
Kaikohe
Kaikohe recorded 11 mm (1.1 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 8am on the 3rd.
Kaikohe recorded 30 mm (3.0 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 8am on the 4th.
High Wind / Gust
Winds were gusting to 45 km/hr at Kaikohe.
Flooding
at
Maungakaramea
Maungakaramea Road adjacent to Cotton's limestone quarry had slumped by about 15 cm.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Parua Bay
A launch was driven onto rocks at Parua Bay on the morning of the 4th and was thought to have been holed.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Whangarei
At Whangarei, some flooding was experienced in and around sections of the Hatea River and Town basin area on the night of the 4th.
A pontoon was damaged in rough seas at Onerahi on the morning of the 4th.
Heavy Rain
Whangarei recorded 20 mm(2.0 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 8am on the 3rd.
Torrential rain fell at Whangarei overnight on the 3rd.
Whangarei city recorded 44 mm (4.4 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 8am on the 4th.
Whangarei recorded 47 mm (4.7 cm) of rain from 12am on the 4th to 10am on the 5th.
The eastern hills around Whangarei received up to 50 mm (5.0 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 8am on the 4th.
The Whangarei area received 130 mm (13.0 cm) of rain in the three days from the 1st to the 3rd.
Flooding
Waiarohia Stream and Raumanga Stream overflowed on the night of the 3rd, closing Commerce Street. The southern end of Hatea Drive was partially flooded and Riverside Drive had some flooding.
The water was about 20 cm deep in Commerce Street on the morning of the 4th.
There was about 30 cm of water over the A and P carpark in Dent Street.
Multi Hazard
There were also a number of small slips and fallen trees around Whangarei.
High Wind / Gust
Whangarei bore the brunt of gale-force south-easterly winds.
Landslide
Minor slips were reported on Mt Tiger Road and Patua North Road.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Whangarei Harbour
The sea level was backed up in Whangarei Harbour by nearly 0.4 m predicted tides.
Auckland
Flooding
at
Auckland
The North Shore City Council's action line received over 900 calls about surface flooding and widespread sewage overflows.
Raw sewage flowed on to beaches. The North Shore City Council closed 14 beaches from Long Bay to Stanley Bay and also Beach Haven. Sewage warning signs were also put up at Kohimarama.
Properties were flooded on the North Shore.
Auckland Carpet Steam 'N' Dry received 400 calls about flood-damaged carpets. The owner had never seen anything like it in the 12 years they had been doing flood restorations.
Coastal flooding in Auckland was caused by high tides, strong easterly winds and high river levels.
Multi Hazard
Roads were closed on the North Shore.
Heavy Rain
at
Albany Village
Albany recorded 33 mm (3.3 cm) of rain on the 30th.
Albany recorded 42 mm (4.2 cm) of rain on the 1st.
Albany recorded 32 mm (3.2 cm) of rain on the 2nd.
Ponds at the Rosedale wastewater treatment plant were swollen. On the night of the 3rd the ponds were only 180 mm away from triggering the use of an emergency spillway into local streams. Peak flows into the North Shore plant were four times greater than average. On the 5th, the pumping stations stopped overflowing for the first time in five days.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Hatfields Beach
At Hatfields Beach, an emergency rock wall and a giant sandbank had to be built between the beach and SH1 to stop the bank washing away under an unusually high tide. At the narrowiest point, just 1.5 m of the bank was left. The northern end of the beach took the worst battering.
Multi Hazard
at
Hillsborough
300-400 homes in Hillsborough were without power for five days.
Heavy Rain
at
Kaukapakapa
A Kaukapakapa farm recorded over 50 mm (5.0 cm) of rain.
Flooding
A Kaukapakapa farmer and his neighbour had to wade into freezing cold water nearly up to their necks to save sheep from a rising creek.
Heavy Rain
at
Orewa
Orewa received nearly 100 mm (10.0 cm) of rain.
Flooding
at
Waitakere
Properties were flooded in Waitakere.
Flooding
at
Whangaparaoa
The Fire Service responded to over 40 calls in Whangaparaoa and Silverdale.
Manhole covers were popping off in streets and sewage poured into streets.
Raw effluent flowed into Orewa Estuary and Stanmore Bay as sewer networks in Rodney failed to cope with the water.
Waikato
Multi Hazard
at
Waikato
Several Coromandel roads were closed by flood waters and slips.
Heavy Rain
The Coromandel Peninsula received 100 mm (10.0 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 2nd.
Torrential rain in the region abated overnight on the 3rd.
Flooding
High rainfall and widespread flooding occurred throughout the Coromandel.
Maritime / Coastal
High tides lapped over beachfront properties. At 8:30am on the 4th, the last high tide of concern lapped over beachfront properties.
Flooding
at
Cooks Beach
The rainfall created havoc at coastal properties at Cooks Beach.
Heavy Rain
at
Golden Cross
Golden Cross recorded 141 mm (14.0 cm) of rain.
Flooding
at
Hikuai
Flooding at Hikuai junction prevented access to Pauanui and Tairua for all but heavy vehicles.
Heavy Rain
at
The Pinnacles
The Pinnacles recorded 250 mm of rain (25.0 cm).
Flooding
41 tramping school studdents were stranded at The Pinnacles Hut on the night of the 3rd due to high river levels in the Kauaeranga Valley. The police helicopter airlifted seven other trampers out of the area after their cars became stuck between flooded fords.
Landslide
at
Te Kouma
A large slip blocked State Highway 25 near Te Kouma.
Landslide
at
Waiomu
Two slips covered a section of State Highway 25 between Thames and Coromandel, both coming from the same bank, the first at 11:30am and the second at 2:30pm. The road was closed between Waiomu and Tapu for about five hours.
Heavy Rain
at
Wentworth River
Upper Wentworth recorded 154 mm (15.4 cm) of rain.
Heavy Rain
at
Whitianga
Whitianga had received about 174 mm (17.4 cm) of rain by 12pm on the 3rd.
Buffalo Beach recorded 14 mm (1.4 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 1pm on the 4th.
Flooding
One Whitianga house was flooded and several others were threatened by water.
State Highway 25 south of Whitianga was closed for a brief time.
Maritime / Coastal
Damage to Buffalo Beach's seawall was limited to some heavy erosion.
References
- Bell, R.; Gorman, R. Overview of Weather and Coastal Hazards in the Northland Region. Part II: Coastal.
- Environment Waikato. State of Emergency Declarations in the district since 1976.
- Insurance Councils, The Cost of Weather Loses, Claim history (Updated 2004).
- www.metservice, notable weather events.govt.nz
- Headline: Worst over, say forecasters.
- The Northern Advcoate, 3 July 2000.
- Headline: More city flooding forecast: King tide, deluge spell trouble.
- The Northern Advcoate, 4 July 2000.
- Headline: High tides could still cause flooding.
- The Northern Advcoate, 5 July 2000.
- Headline: Up to our ears in rain.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 3 July 2000.
- Headline: Coromandel flounders beneath deluge.
- The New Zealand Herald, 4 July 2000.
- Headline: Frazzled time as bad weather and holidays coincide.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 4 July 2000.
- Headline: Fears for trees at storm-hit bay.
- The New Zealand Herald, 5 July 2000.
- Headline: Peninsula gives sighs of relief as big wet ends.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 5 July 2000.
- Headline: Recent rain highlights fragile wastewater system.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 8 July 2000.
- Headline: Waikato escapes the worst of deluge.
- The Waikato Times, 3 July 2000.