NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
June 1953 Gisborne and Wellington Flooding
(
1953-06-10
)
Torrential rain brought flooding and landslides to Gisborne and the Wairarapa.
North Island
Heavy Rain
at
North Island
Eastern North Island experienced heavy rainfalls on the 10th of June.
Flooding
There was extensive flooding from East Cape to Kaikoura.
Slips and washouts interrupted road and rail communications.
Gisborne
Flooding
at
Gisborne
There was considerable flooding of rivers and creeks on the 10th.
There were heavy stock losses.
Many houses were isolated and undermined.
The East Coast railway suffered considerable damage. There was extensive storm damage to the Gisborne-Wairoa section of the railway. There were two large washouts in the upper portion of the Kopuawhara Valley. Eleven slips blocked the line between Beach Loop and Paritu. Motuhora branch line had a section of the track under 3 ft (0.91 m) water.
There was flooding, slips and washouts which caused road and rail communication interuptions.
Bridges were underwater as a result of flooding streams.
Telegraph and telephone communication between Gisborne and all points north of Tolaga Bay on the East Coast Route was suspended.
Landslide
Slips came down on many roads.
High Wind / Gust
The storm was accompained by heavy winds.
Winds rose to 48 mph (77.2 km/hr).
Landslide
at
Hicks Bay
There were several slips on the Hicks Bay Hill.
Heavy Rain
at
Kopuawhara Valley
Heavy rain brought floods to the Kopuawhara district resulting in damage reminiscent of the flood 16 years ago.
Flooding
Kopuawhara Stream was flooded.
Houses were isolated.
Stock losses were heavy. One settler lost 110 wethers and ewes.
Much valuable pasture was ruined.
Flooding was of short duration but extremely severe.
The whole of the mouth of the valley was filled with water.
Flooding
at
Matawhero
The Waipaoa River had a clearance of about 18 in (0.46 m) from the bank at Matahwero.
Heavy Rain
at
Tangihanga
Tangihanga recorded 9.54 in (24.23 cm) of rain in 24 hours ending 9:00am on the 10th.
Heavy Rain
at
Te Araroa
Te Araroa recorded 9.54 in (24.23 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Flooding
Residents in the Karakatuwhero Valley were cut off for about a month until the new road was put through.
Flooding
at
Waipaoa River
Waipaoa River had a discharge of 48,000 cusecs (1359 cumecs) at Kanakanaia with a gauge height of 18 ft (5.5 m) and a catchment area of 606 sq miles (1570 km^2).
Wellington
Heavy Rain
at
Wairarapa
Torrential rain over 24 hours on the 10th brought widespread flooding. The most serious flooding was in south Wairarapa and Tinui.
Flooding
The flooding equalled that of 1947.
In South Wairarapa there were serious stock losses as mustering had to take place in the dark.
The damage to county roads totalled £30,560 ($1,507,000 2009 dollars).
Flooding
at
Carterton
The main street of Carterton had the appearance of a river.
Shops and houses were inundated to a depth of one foot (0.30 m).
Roads were blocked and areas were isolated by slips and floodwaters.
Flooding
at
Lansdowne
At Lansdowne a raging torrent swept down Totara Street and into Te Ore Ore, flooding a dozen homes.
Flooding
at
Martinborough
Martinborough was isolated.
The flood was equal to the disatrous flood of 1947.
Ruamahanga River had an estimated peak discharge of 65,000 cusecs (1841 cumecs) at Martinborough Bridge with a catchment area of 990 sq miles (2564 km^2).
Heavy Rain
at
Masterton
Masterton recorded 5.25 in (13.34 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Masterton recorded 2 in (5.08 cm) of rain in four hours.
Flooding
There was extensive flooding especially in the southern part of town and several shops were invaded. In sevral shops water was a foot deep (0.30 m).
The damage to main highways in Masterton cost £5237 ($258,200 2009 dollars).
All streams and creeks flowing through Masterton broke their banks and inundated many gardens.
Roads south of Masterton were blocked.
Telephones were down to many households.
Sewerage was overflowing into streets in some areas.
The aerodome was closed.
Flooding
at
Papawai
At Papawai the water levels exceeded that of the 1947 flood.
Flooding
at
Rangitumau
Rangitumau had the worst flood known, almost the whole of the flats there were underwater.
Flooding
at
Taueru River
Taueru River rose 37 ft (11.3 m) above normal, which was the highest level since 1941.
Heavy Rain
at
Tinui
Tinui recorded 5 in (12.7 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
References
- Cowie, C.A., Attwood, A.K. (1957) Floods in New Zealand 1920-1953, The Soil Conservation Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand
- Hydrology Annual No.3 1955, Soil Conservation and River Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand
- Major weather events in New Zealand, FLOODS AND HIGH RAINFALL, Floods to 31st July 2006
- Owen, R.E., 1957. Rainfall Observations for 1953, New Zealand Meteorological Service.
- Saunders, W.(2000) Planning and Resources, Hazard and Emergency Management Section, WAIRARAPA DIVISION, Wairarapa Storm Events 1880 - 1998, Technical Report No. 00/17
- Headline: Extensive Damage to Railway.
- The Evening Post, June 10 1953.
- Headline: Widespread flooding in Wairarapa.
- The Evening Post, June 10 1953.
- Headline: 9.54in Of Rain Fall In 24 Hours At Te Araroa.
- The Gisborne Herald, 11 June 1953.
- Headline: Coast Stream Run High: Bridge Decks Submerged.
- The Gisborne Herald, 11 June 1953.
- Headline: Kopuawhara Sruge Extremely Severe For Brief Period.
- The Gisborne Herald, 11 June 1953.
- Headline: Waipaoa's headwaters swollen by heavy rain.
- The Gisborne Herald, 2 April 1954.
June 1953 Gisborne and Wellington Flooding
(
1953-06-10
)
Torrential rain brought flooding and landslides to Gisborne and the Wairarapa.
North Island
Heavy Rain
at
North Island
Eastern North Island experienced heavy rainfalls on the 10th of June.
Flooding
There was extensive flooding from East Cape to Kaikoura.
Slips and washouts interrupted road and rail communications.
Gisborne
Flooding
at
Gisborne
There was considerable flooding of rivers and creeks on the 10th.
There were heavy stock losses.
Many houses were isolated and undermined.
The East Coast railway suffered considerable damage. There was extensive storm damage to the Gisborne-Wairoa section of the railway. There were two large washouts in the upper portion of the Kopuawhara Valley. Eleven slips blocked the line between Beach Loop and Paritu. Motuhora branch line had a section of the track under 3 ft (0.91 m) water.
There was flooding, slips and washouts which caused road and rail communication interuptions.
Bridges were underwater as a result of flooding streams.
Telegraph and telephone communication between Gisborne and all points north of Tolaga Bay on the East Coast Route was suspended.
Landslide
Slips came down on many roads.
High Wind / Gust
The storm was accompained by heavy winds.
Winds rose to 48 mph (77.2 km/hr).
Landslide
at
Hicks Bay
There were several slips on the Hicks Bay Hill.
Heavy Rain
at
Kopuawhara Valley
Heavy rain brought floods to the Kopuawhara district resulting in damage reminiscent of the flood 16 years ago.
Flooding
Kopuawhara Stream was flooded.
Houses were isolated.
Stock losses were heavy. One settler lost 110 wethers and ewes.
Much valuable pasture was ruined.
Flooding was of short duration but extremely severe.
The whole of the mouth of the valley was filled with water.
Flooding
at
Matawhero
The Waipaoa River had a clearance of about 18 in (0.46 m) from the bank at Matahwero.
Heavy Rain
at
Tangihanga
Tangihanga recorded 9.54 in (24.23 cm) of rain in 24 hours ending 9:00am on the 10th.
Heavy Rain
at
Te Araroa
Te Araroa recorded 9.54 in (24.23 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Flooding
Residents in the Karakatuwhero Valley were cut off for about a month until the new road was put through.
Flooding
at
Waipaoa River
Waipaoa River had a discharge of 48,000 cusecs (1359 cumecs) at Kanakanaia with a gauge height of 18 ft (5.5 m) and a catchment area of 606 sq miles (1570 km^2).
Wellington
Heavy Rain
at
Wairarapa
Torrential rain over 24 hours on the 10th brought widespread flooding. The most serious flooding was in south Wairarapa and Tinui.
Flooding
The flooding equalled that of 1947.
In South Wairarapa there were serious stock losses as mustering had to take place in the dark.
The damage to county roads totalled £30,560 ($1,507,000 2009 dollars).
Flooding
at
Carterton
The main street of Carterton had the appearance of a river.
Shops and houses were inundated to a depth of one foot (0.30 m).
Roads were blocked and areas were isolated by slips and floodwaters.
Flooding
at
Lansdowne
At Lansdowne a raging torrent swept down Totara Street and into Te Ore Ore, flooding a dozen homes.
Flooding
at
Martinborough
Martinborough was isolated.
The flood was equal to the disatrous flood of 1947.
Ruamahanga River had an estimated peak discharge of 65,000 cusecs (1841 cumecs) at Martinborough Bridge with a catchment area of 990 sq miles (2564 km^2).
Heavy Rain
at
Masterton
Masterton recorded 5.25 in (13.34 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Masterton recorded 2 in (5.08 cm) of rain in four hours.
Flooding
There was extensive flooding especially in the southern part of town and several shops were invaded. In sevral shops water was a foot deep (0.30 m).
The damage to main highways in Masterton cost £5237 ($258,200 2009 dollars).
All streams and creeks flowing through Masterton broke their banks and inundated many gardens.
Roads south of Masterton were blocked.
Telephones were down to many households.
Sewerage was overflowing into streets in some areas.
The aerodome was closed.
Flooding
at
Papawai
At Papawai the water levels exceeded that of the 1947 flood.
Flooding
at
Rangitumau
Rangitumau had the worst flood known, almost the whole of the flats there were underwater.
Flooding
at
Taueru River
Taueru River rose 37 ft (11.3 m) above normal, which was the highest level since 1941.
Heavy Rain
at
Tinui
Tinui recorded 5 in (12.7 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
References
- Cowie, C.A., Attwood, A.K. (1957) Floods in New Zealand 1920-1953, The Soil Conservation Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand
- Hydrology Annual No.3 1955, Soil Conservation and River Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand
- Major weather events in New Zealand, FLOODS AND HIGH RAINFALL, Floods to 31st July 2006
- Owen, R.E., 1957. Rainfall Observations for 1953, New Zealand Meteorological Service.
- Saunders, W.(2000) Planning and Resources, Hazard and Emergency Management Section, WAIRARAPA DIVISION, Wairarapa Storm Events 1880 - 1998, Technical Report No. 00/17
- Headline: Extensive Damage to Railway.
- The Evening Post, June 10 1953.
- Headline: Widespread flooding in Wairarapa.
- The Evening Post, June 10 1953.
- Headline: 9.54in Of Rain Fall In 24 Hours At Te Araroa.
- The Gisborne Herald, 11 June 1953.
- Headline: Coast Stream Run High: Bridge Decks Submerged.
- The Gisborne Herald, 11 June 1953.
- Headline: Kopuawhara Sruge Extremely Severe For Brief Period.
- The Gisborne Herald, 11 June 1953.
- Headline: Waipaoa's headwaters swollen by heavy rain.
- The Gisborne Herald, 2 April 1954.