NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
July 2005 Waikato Flooding ( 2005-07-16 )
Thunderstorms and high rainfall brought flooding to parts of Northland, Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty, particularly the Coromandel. Properties and roads were flooded on the Coromandel.
North Island
Multi Hazard
Duration: 2 days - From the 16th to the 17th of July.
A depression lay west of the North Island. An associated frontal band extending east-west from the low moved slowly south, its progress slowed by a blocking high between the South Island and the Chathams. Low-level convergence within a strong easterly flow affected the Coromandel, and rainfall was enhanced by upper divergence and CVA within a short wave trough moving south-east over the area. Convection was a major contributor to the rainfall.
The worst period of the storms was between 9pm and 11pm on the 16th.
Lightning
An electrical storm brought an estimated 200 lightning strikes an hour right through Northland, Auckland and as far down as Thames.
Northland
Lightning
at
Northland
Northland received the majority of the lightning brought by an electrical storm on the 16th.
Flooding
Northland experienced flooding and road closures on the 16th and 17th.
Auckland
Lightning
at
Auckland
An electrical storm brought a spectacular lightning show to Auckland on the 16th.
Heavy Rain
Parts of Auckland received rainfall of up to 45 mm/hr (4.5 cm/hr).
Flooding
Several properties were flooded.
Waikato
Heavy Rain
at
Waikato
High rainfall occurred in the high country of southern Coromandel on the 17th.
High areas of the Coromandel Peninsula received 170 mm (17.0 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Flooding
Coromandel rivers and streams burst their banks.
Debris clogged up stormwater drains.
The east coast of the Coromandel Pensinsula appeared to be the worst hit, with several roads closed and water entering basements.
Flooding
at
Hikuai
Several motorists had to be rescued from vehicles caught in rising flood waters on State Highway 25 near Hikuai.
Flooding
at
Karangahake Gorge
The Ohinemuri River in Karangahake Gorge overflowed onto State Highway 2 in several places in early morning on the 17th, closing the road.
Heavy Rain
at
Pauanui
Pauanui recorded 160 mm (16.0 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Pauanui recorded 313 mm (31.3 cm) of rain in 36 hours (Return Period 50 years).
Pauanui recorded 215 mm (21.5 cm) of rain in 12 hours (Return Period 65 years).
It was the heaviest rain in 25 years.
Flooding
Pauanui was isloated by road when flood waters washed out a culvert on the main access road to the town. Holidays makers and grocery shoppers were stranded. Thousands of people were trapped in area.
The Fire Service had to take a boy with breathing problems to Tairua by boat.
The sewage treatment plant overflowed, and had to be released into the harbour.
Landslide
In the Pauanui area, 15-20 little slips occurred as well as four large slips.
Heavy Rain
at
The Pinnacles
The Pinnacles recorded 159.5 mm (16.0 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Heavy Rain
at
Tairua
Tairua reported 309 mm (30.9 cm) of rain overnight on the 16th/17th (Return Period more than 150 years).
Flooding
At Tairua, roads were closed and motorists were stranded in flood waters.
Tairua properties were damaged.
Heavy Rain
at
Waihi
Waihi recorded 60 mm (6.0 cm) of rain in one hour.
Waihi recorded 180 mm (18.0 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
The rainfall had an estimated Return Period of 50 years.
Flooding
The rain caused high flows in the Mangatoetoe Stream through Waihi township.
One dwelling was flooded.
Bay of Plenty
Heavy Rain
at
Bay of Plenty
High rainfall occurred in the high country of western Bay of Plenty on the 17th.
Rainfall totalled 160-170 mm (16.0-17.0 cm).
References
- Major weather events in New Zealand, Floods and High Rainfall, Floods to 30 Sep 2005.
- Major weather events in New Zealand, Floods and High Rainfall, Floods to 31 May 2006.
- Meteorological Society of New Zealand (Inc.) Newsletter 102, September 2005.
- Mulholland, M. (2005). Flooding of Mangatoetoe Stres Waihi: July 2005. Environment Waikato Technical Report 2005/32.
- Headline: Extreme kayakers revel in extreme weather.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 18 July 2005.
- New Zealand Meteorological Service. (2008). Meteorology of Extreme Rainfalls in New Zealand (Mark Pascoe, Ed.).
- The Waikato Times, 12 July 2005. Pauanui's road access swept away.
- Headline: Rising river levels trigger widespread warnings.
- The Waikato Times, 12 July 2005.
July 2005 Waikato Flooding ( 2005-07-16 )
Thunderstorms and high rainfall brought flooding to parts of Northland, Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty, particularly the Coromandel. Properties and roads were flooded on the Coromandel.
North Island
Multi Hazard
Duration: 2 days - From the 16th to the 17th of July.
A depression lay west of the North Island. An associated frontal band extending east-west from the low moved slowly south, its progress slowed by a blocking high between the South Island and the Chathams. Low-level convergence within a strong easterly flow affected the Coromandel, and rainfall was enhanced by upper divergence and CVA within a short wave trough moving south-east over the area. Convection was a major contributor to the rainfall.
The worst period of the storms was between 9pm and 11pm on the 16th.
Lightning
An electrical storm brought an estimated 200 lightning strikes an hour right through Northland, Auckland and as far down as Thames.
Northland
Lightning
at
Northland
Northland received the majority of the lightning brought by an electrical storm on the 16th.
Flooding
Northland experienced flooding and road closures on the 16th and 17th.
Auckland
Lightning
at
Auckland
An electrical storm brought a spectacular lightning show to Auckland on the 16th.
Heavy Rain
Parts of Auckland received rainfall of up to 45 mm/hr (4.5 cm/hr).
Flooding
Several properties were flooded.
Waikato
Heavy Rain
at
Waikato
High rainfall occurred in the high country of southern Coromandel on the 17th.
High areas of the Coromandel Peninsula received 170 mm (17.0 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Flooding
Coromandel rivers and streams burst their banks.
Debris clogged up stormwater drains.
The east coast of the Coromandel Pensinsula appeared to be the worst hit, with several roads closed and water entering basements.
Flooding
at
Hikuai
Several motorists had to be rescued from vehicles caught in rising flood waters on State Highway 25 near Hikuai.
Flooding
at
Karangahake Gorge
The Ohinemuri River in Karangahake Gorge overflowed onto State Highway 2 in several places in early morning on the 17th, closing the road.
Heavy Rain
at
Pauanui
Pauanui recorded 160 mm (16.0 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Pauanui recorded 313 mm (31.3 cm) of rain in 36 hours (Return Period 50 years).
Pauanui recorded 215 mm (21.5 cm) of rain in 12 hours (Return Period 65 years).
It was the heaviest rain in 25 years.
Flooding
Pauanui was isloated by road when flood waters washed out a culvert on the main access road to the town. Holidays makers and grocery shoppers were stranded. Thousands of people were trapped in area.
The Fire Service had to take a boy with breathing problems to Tairua by boat.
The sewage treatment plant overflowed, and had to be released into the harbour.
Landslide
In the Pauanui area, 15-20 little slips occurred as well as four large slips.
Heavy Rain
at
The Pinnacles
The Pinnacles recorded 159.5 mm (16.0 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Heavy Rain
at
Tairua
Tairua reported 309 mm (30.9 cm) of rain overnight on the 16th/17th (Return Period more than 150 years).
Flooding
At Tairua, roads were closed and motorists were stranded in flood waters.
Tairua properties were damaged.
Heavy Rain
at
Waihi
Waihi recorded 60 mm (6.0 cm) of rain in one hour.
Waihi recorded 180 mm (18.0 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
The rainfall had an estimated Return Period of 50 years.
Flooding
The rain caused high flows in the Mangatoetoe Stream through Waihi township.
One dwelling was flooded.
Bay of Plenty
Heavy Rain
at
Bay of Plenty
High rainfall occurred in the high country of western Bay of Plenty on the 17th.
Rainfall totalled 160-170 mm (16.0-17.0 cm).
References
- Major weather events in New Zealand, Floods and High Rainfall, Floods to 30 Sep 2005.
- Major weather events in New Zealand, Floods and High Rainfall, Floods to 31 May 2006.
- Meteorological Society of New Zealand (Inc.) Newsletter 102, September 2005.
- Mulholland, M. (2005). Flooding of Mangatoetoe Stres Waihi: July 2005. Environment Waikato Technical Report 2005/32.
- Headline: Extreme kayakers revel in extreme weather.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 18 July 2005.
- New Zealand Meteorological Service. (2008). Meteorology of Extreme Rainfalls in New Zealand (Mark Pascoe, Ed.).
- The Waikato Times, 12 July 2005. Pauanui's road access swept away.
- Headline: Rising river levels trigger widespread warnings.
- The Waikato Times, 12 July 2005.