NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
July 2014 Upper North Island Storm ( 2014-07-08 )
From 8-12 July there was a very strong moist northeasterly flow over the north of the North Island. This brought severe gales, which blew down trees, blew roofs off houses and cut power to thousands of households. There was also prolonged heavy rain which caused flooding in some areas. Northland was worst affected, with much damage resulting.
North Island
Multi Hazard
at
North Island
Duration: 4 days - From the 8th to the 12th of July.
A low pressure system was centred in the northern Tasman Sea and an anticyclone lay to the east of NZ. This resulted in a very strong moist northeasterly flow over the north of the North Island, bringing severe gales and prolonged heavy rain.
Insurance claims for the storm total $15.1 million.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 8:43 am 08-Jul-2014. STORMY WEATHER FOR NORTHERN NEW ZEALAND. A low is forecast to approach northern New Zealand today and then gradually weaken during Wednesday. This low is forecast to bring heavy rain to Northland as well as severe easterly gales which are now expected to spread into parts of Auckland and Coromandel Peninsula later today.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 8:00 pm 08-Jul-2014. HEAVY RAIN AND EASTERLY GALES FOR NORTHERN NEW ZEALAND
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 8:36 am 09-Jul-2014. EASTERLY GALES FOR NORTHERN NEW ZEALAND. HEAVY RAIN HAS EASED IN NORTHLAND WEDNESDAY MORNING.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 4:00 pm 09-Jul-2014. SEVERE EASTERLY GALES OVER NORTHERN NEW ZEALAND SLOWLY EASING. FURTHER MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN FOR SODDEN PARTS OF NORTHLAND UNTIL THURSDAY MORNING.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 9:11 am 10-Jul-2014. NORTHEASTERLY GALES AND PERIODS OF RAIN CONTINUING OVER NORTHERN NEW ZEALAND TODAY AND FRIDAY. HEAVY RAIN DEVELOPING IN THE WEST AND NORTH OF THE SOUTH ISLAND OVERNIGHT THURSDAY.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 4:30 pm 10-Jul-2014. FURTHER HEAVY RAIN FOR NORTHLAND THROUGH TO SATURDAY MORNING. HEAVY RAIN ON THE WAY FOR THE WEST AND NORTH OF THE SOUTH ISLAND, ESPECIALLY NORTHERN FIORDLAND, WESTLAND AND WESTERN NELSON.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 9:12 am 11-Jul-2014. FURTHER HEAVY RAIN FOR NORTHLAND TILL SATURDAY MORNING. HEAVY RAIN FOR THE WEST AND NORTH OF THE SOUTH ISLAND.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 8:52 pm 11-Jul-2014. FURTHER HEAVY RAIN FOR NORTHLAND AND THE WEST AND NORTH OF THE SOUTH ISLAND. NORTHEAST GALES FOR NORTHLAND AND AUCKLAND BECOME SEVERE FOR A TIME.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 8:35 am 12-Jul-2014. FURTHER HEAVY RAIN FOR THE WEST AND NORTH OF THE SOUTH ISLAND, AND FOR BAY OF PLENTY.
Northland
Heavy Rain
at
Northland
Rainfall totals of 159mm were recorded in Kaitaia, and 117 mm in Kerikeri on 8 July.
High Wind / Gust
at
Northland
More than 13,000 homes across Northland were without power, with the rural areas around Kaipara and Whangarei worst hit
The Ministry of Social Development had received more than 130 requests for food, clothing and fuel, mostly as the result of power outages, in the Kaitaia, Kawakawa and Kaikohe areas.
The Fire Service responded to more than 120 weather-related calls across Northland. Most callouts were for roofs being blown off and trees landing on roads.
Some avocado orchards in the Far North and Whangarei district were hit hard, especially those in exposed eastern areas. The cost of the storm to that industry was estimated at $13.5 million, with a 30% loss of crop.
Flooding
at
Northland
DairyNZ estimated that 5000 hectares of grass on dairy farms in the region was expected to remain under water for 10 days, and would take three months to become productive again. The cost of regrassing was conservatively estimated at $660 per hectare, while other costs would include fencing, repairing races and the loss of calves.
Landslide
at
Kawakawa
State Highway 1, south of Kawakawa, was closed when a 70m section of road collapsed. Mangakahia Road became the only direct route to the Far North after the State Highway 1 closure. Mangakahia Road was also damaged by the storm; that road remained open to cars, but trucks and tankers had to take the alternate route of State Highway 12 up the west coast through Hokianga, which added over two hours to journey times to the Far North.
High Wind / Gust
at
Kaitaia
Twelve properties in Kaitaia lost their roofs in the storm.
Flooding
at
Wairua Falls
A kayaker drowned after he got caught at the base of the falls, whilst he was kayaking the flooded Wairua River.
Flooding
at
Haruru
A woman drowned when she was swept away from her partially submerged vehicle near Haruru Falls. The area was extensively flooded, and there were strong currents across paddocks leading into the Waitangi River. Three other people, who were stuck in trees or on car and shed roofs in the vicinity, were rescued.
A welfare centre was set up at the Haruru Bledisloe Hall for residents affected by flooding.
High Wind / Gust
at
Tutukaka Harbour
The strongest winds started on 8 July with gusts of almost 150km/h recorded at the weather station at Tutukaka Harbour. The average wind speeds recorded at Tutukaka Harbour exceeded gale force for almost every hour for the next three days.
High Wind / Gust
at
Cape Reinga
Wind speeds at Cape Reinga had reached 168km/h
Auckland
High Wind / Gust
at
Auckland City
In Auckland more than 9000 households were without power on 8 July. The bulk of customers affected were in Riverhead, Helensville, Whangaripo, Waiwera, South Head, Muriwai, Tapora, theKaipara hills and Kaukapakapa.
The speed limit across the Auckland Harbour Bridge was lowered to 70km/h on the afternoon of 8 July and 9 July, with trucks and motorcycles being urged to avoid the bridge altogether due to wild winds.
Winds around the Auckland CBD reached 70km/h, and the mean wind speed at Auckland's Sky Tower was 106km/h.
References
- Headline: 168 kmh wind recorded as storm hits north.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 8 July 2014.
- Headline: Winds hammer upper North Island.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 9 July 2014.
- Headline: Search for woman swept away by storm.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 12 July 2014.
- Headline: $100,000 for storm-hit Northland.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 14 July 2014.
- Headline: Slip-damaged SH1 expected to reopen tonight.
- www. nzherald.co.nz, July 2014.
- Headline: Storm costs millions – and rising.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, July 2014.
- Headline: Czech kayaker drowns at falls.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, July 2014.
- Headline: Woman’s body found in Waitangi River.
- www. nzherald.co.nz, July 2014.
- Headline: The Northland floods of July 2014.
- http://blog.metservice.com/2014/07/the-northland-floods-of-july-2014/
- Insurance Council of New Zealand (www.icnz.org.nz/current/weather)
July 2014 Upper North Island Storm ( 2014-07-08 )
From 8-12 July there was a very strong moist northeasterly flow over the north of the North Island. This brought severe gales, which blew down trees, blew roofs off houses and cut power to thousands of households. There was also prolonged heavy rain which caused flooding in some areas. Northland was worst affected, with much damage resulting.
North Island
Multi Hazard
at
North Island
Duration: 4 days - From the 8th to the 12th of July.
A low pressure system was centred in the northern Tasman Sea and an anticyclone lay to the east of NZ. This resulted in a very strong moist northeasterly flow over the north of the North Island, bringing severe gales and prolonged heavy rain.
Insurance claims for the storm total $15.1 million.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 8:43 am 08-Jul-2014. STORMY WEATHER FOR NORTHERN NEW ZEALAND. A low is forecast to approach northern New Zealand today and then gradually weaken during Wednesday. This low is forecast to bring heavy rain to Northland as well as severe easterly gales which are now expected to spread into parts of Auckland and Coromandel Peninsula later today.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 8:00 pm 08-Jul-2014. HEAVY RAIN AND EASTERLY GALES FOR NORTHERN NEW ZEALAND
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 8:36 am 09-Jul-2014. EASTERLY GALES FOR NORTHERN NEW ZEALAND. HEAVY RAIN HAS EASED IN NORTHLAND WEDNESDAY MORNING.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 4:00 pm 09-Jul-2014. SEVERE EASTERLY GALES OVER NORTHERN NEW ZEALAND SLOWLY EASING. FURTHER MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN FOR SODDEN PARTS OF NORTHLAND UNTIL THURSDAY MORNING.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 9:11 am 10-Jul-2014. NORTHEASTERLY GALES AND PERIODS OF RAIN CONTINUING OVER NORTHERN NEW ZEALAND TODAY AND FRIDAY. HEAVY RAIN DEVELOPING IN THE WEST AND NORTH OF THE SOUTH ISLAND OVERNIGHT THURSDAY.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 4:30 pm 10-Jul-2014. FURTHER HEAVY RAIN FOR NORTHLAND THROUGH TO SATURDAY MORNING. HEAVY RAIN ON THE WAY FOR THE WEST AND NORTH OF THE SOUTH ISLAND, ESPECIALLY NORTHERN FIORDLAND, WESTLAND AND WESTERN NELSON.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 9:12 am 11-Jul-2014. FURTHER HEAVY RAIN FOR NORTHLAND TILL SATURDAY MORNING. HEAVY RAIN FOR THE WEST AND NORTH OF THE SOUTH ISLAND.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 8:52 pm 11-Jul-2014. FURTHER HEAVY RAIN FOR NORTHLAND AND THE WEST AND NORTH OF THE SOUTH ISLAND. NORTHEAST GALES FOR NORTHLAND AND AUCKLAND BECOME SEVERE FOR A TIME.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 8:35 am 12-Jul-2014. FURTHER HEAVY RAIN FOR THE WEST AND NORTH OF THE SOUTH ISLAND, AND FOR BAY OF PLENTY.
Northland
Heavy Rain
at
Northland
Rainfall totals of 159mm were recorded in Kaitaia, and 117 mm in Kerikeri on 8 July.
High Wind / Gust
at
Northland
More than 13,000 homes across Northland were without power, with the rural areas around Kaipara and Whangarei worst hit
The Ministry of Social Development had received more than 130 requests for food, clothing and fuel, mostly as the result of power outages, in the Kaitaia, Kawakawa and Kaikohe areas.
The Fire Service responded to more than 120 weather-related calls across Northland. Most callouts were for roofs being blown off and trees landing on roads.
Some avocado orchards in the Far North and Whangarei district were hit hard, especially those in exposed eastern areas. The cost of the storm to that industry was estimated at $13.5 million, with a 30% loss of crop.
Flooding
at
Northland
DairyNZ estimated that 5000 hectares of grass on dairy farms in the region was expected to remain under water for 10 days, and would take three months to become productive again. The cost of regrassing was conservatively estimated at $660 per hectare, while other costs would include fencing, repairing races and the loss of calves.
Landslide
at
Kawakawa
State Highway 1, south of Kawakawa, was closed when a 70m section of road collapsed. Mangakahia Road became the only direct route to the Far North after the State Highway 1 closure. Mangakahia Road was also damaged by the storm; that road remained open to cars, but trucks and tankers had to take the alternate route of State Highway 12 up the west coast through Hokianga, which added over two hours to journey times to the Far North.
High Wind / Gust
at
Kaitaia
Twelve properties in Kaitaia lost their roofs in the storm.
Flooding
at
Wairua Falls
A kayaker drowned after he got caught at the base of the falls, whilst he was kayaking the flooded Wairua River.
Flooding
at
Haruru
A woman drowned when she was swept away from her partially submerged vehicle near Haruru Falls. The area was extensively flooded, and there were strong currents across paddocks leading into the Waitangi River. Three other people, who were stuck in trees or on car and shed roofs in the vicinity, were rescued.
A welfare centre was set up at the Haruru Bledisloe Hall for residents affected by flooding.
High Wind / Gust
at
Tutukaka Harbour
The strongest winds started on 8 July with gusts of almost 150km/h recorded at the weather station at Tutukaka Harbour. The average wind speeds recorded at Tutukaka Harbour exceeded gale force for almost every hour for the next three days.
High Wind / Gust
at
Cape Reinga
Wind speeds at Cape Reinga had reached 168km/h
Auckland
High Wind / Gust
at
Auckland City
In Auckland more than 9000 households were without power on 8 July. The bulk of customers affected were in Riverhead, Helensville, Whangaripo, Waiwera, South Head, Muriwai, Tapora, theKaipara hills and Kaukapakapa.
The speed limit across the Auckland Harbour Bridge was lowered to 70km/h on the afternoon of 8 July and 9 July, with trucks and motorcycles being urged to avoid the bridge altogether due to wild winds.
Winds around the Auckland CBD reached 70km/h, and the mean wind speed at Auckland's Sky Tower was 106km/h.
References
- Headline: 168 kmh wind recorded as storm hits north.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 8 July 2014.
- Headline: Winds hammer upper North Island.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 9 July 2014.
- Headline: Search for woman swept away by storm.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 12 July 2014.
- Headline: $100,000 for storm-hit Northland.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 14 July 2014.
- Headline: Slip-damaged SH1 expected to reopen tonight.
- www. nzherald.co.nz, July 2014.
- Headline: Storm costs millions – and rising.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, July 2014.
- Headline: Czech kayaker drowns at falls.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, July 2014.
- Headline: Woman’s body found in Waitangi River.
- www. nzherald.co.nz, July 2014.
- Headline: The Northland floods of July 2014.
- http://blog.metservice.com/2014/07/the-northland-floods-of-july-2014/
- Insurance Council of New Zealand (www.icnz.org.nz/current/weather)