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June 2015 New Zealand Storm ( 2015-06-18 )

A period of extreme weather affected many areas of New Zealand during the period 18-23 June. There was heavy snow in the South Island followed by severe frosts, and severe flooding in western areas of the South and North Islands.

New Zealand

Multi Hazard at New Zealand

Comments:

Insurance claims for the storm total $41.5 million.

MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 10:31 am 17-Jun-2015. SEVERE STORM OVER THE SOUTH ISLAND FROM LATE WEDNESDAY UNTIL AT LEAST EARLY FRIDAY A deepening low over the Tasman Sea should approach the South Island during Thursday and cross over the far south on Friday. This low and its associated fronts are expected to bring a period of stormy weather over parts of the South Island.

MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 8:56pm 17-Jun-2015 MAJOR WINTER STORM OVER THE SOUTH ISLAND THROUGH TO FRIDAY.

MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 9:16am 18-Jun-2015 MAJOR WINTER STORM OVER THE SOUTH ISLAND THROUGH TO FRIDAY.

MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 9:03pm 18-Jun-2015 SIGNIFICANT WINTER STORM AFFECTING MUCH OF THE SOUTH ISLAND AND PARTS OF THE NORTH ISLAND TONIGHT, FRIDAY AND SATURDAY.

MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 9:10am 19-Jun-2015 HEAVY RAIN AND GALES FOR MANY AREAS FROM CENTRAL SOUTH ISLAND NORTHWARDS.

MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 8:43pm 19-Jun-2015 HEAVY RAIN FOR PARTS OF THE NORTH ISLAND TONIGHT AND SATURDAY, WITH NORTHWEST GALES ABOUT WELLINGTON AND THE WAIRARAPA.

MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 11:23pm 19-Jun-2015 HEAVY RAIN FOR PARTS OF THE NORTH ISLAND TONIGHT AND SATURDAY, WITH NORTHWEST GALES ABOUT WELLINGTON AND THE WAIRARAPA.

MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 9:26am 20-Jun-2015 HEAVY RAIN FOR PARTS OF THE NORTH ISLAND TODAY AND EARLY SUNDAY MORNING. .

MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 1:06pm 20-Jun-2015 FURTHER HEAVY RAIN FOR THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN NORTH ISLAND TODAY AND EARLY SUNDAY MORNING. .

MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 8:26pm 20-Jun-2015 HEAVY RAIN FOR THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN NORTH ISLAND EASING OVERNIGHT SATURDAY.

MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 7:12am 21-Jun-2015 HEAVY RAIN FOR THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN NORTH ISLAND HAS EASED AND THE WARNINGS ARE LIFTED.

Manawatu-Wanganui

Multi Hazard at Manawatu-Wanganui

Comments:

A state of emergency was declared in Whanganui, Taranaki and Rangitikei.

The Manawatu-Whanganui Civil Defence Controller said the amount of water in the Whanganui River was close to being a 100-year flood event. The Whanganui River reached a record level of 9.1 metres at Town Bridge at 3am on 21 June.

At least 30 roads, both rural and urban, were closed, due to a large number of fallen trees and slips. It was thought that rural roads near Whanganui could be closed for a month or more.

Power was cut off to about 6000 properties due to a flooded substation and a large slip which brought down power lines.

State Highway 3, between Whanganui and New Plymouth, and also between Bulls and Whanganui was closed for a time. The Manawatu Gorge was closed for a few days due to a number of small slips. The Pahiatua Track was also closed.

Flooding at Wanganui

Map Location: -39.932232 175.028352

Comments:

400 people were evacuated from their homes, and 244 of them were looked after at a welfare centre which had been set up. Many people chose to leave their homes as the river spilled over its stopbanks after more than 24 hours of heavy rain.

Dozens of homes on the eastern side of the river were inundated by floodwaters with the Anzac Road and Putiki areas the worst affected. Businesses along Taupo Quay in the central business district were also flooded and the main bridge into the town was closed for a time because it had been hit by logs.

Flooding at Koitiata

Map Location: -40.0717 175.1403

Comments:

Army unimogs were used to evacuate six people from the township of Koitiata, in Rangitikei. The army evacuated people who wanted to leave but most wanted to stay with their homes. Some houses were badly flooded, and some owners lost everything.

The roads in and out of the town were closed so the residents were isolated.

Flooding at Waitotara

Map Location: -39.805670 174.726090

Comments:

The entire village of about 60 homes and a pub full of people were evacuated after a state of emergency was declared when heavy rain swelled the Waitotara River to dangerous levels.

Flooding at Marton

Map Location: -40.075433 175.360474

Comments:

Many homes and businesses in Marton were flooded. .

Thirty seven greyhounds were rescued when the Kennels were flooded and the dogs were at risk of drowning.

Flooding at Whangaehu

Map Location: -40.009345 175.171274

Comments:

Whangaehu was cut off by flood waters.

Wellington

Flooding at Levin

Map Location: -40.610591 175.272321

Comments:

State Highway 1 between Otaki and Levin was closed due to flooding, leaving motorists stranded. There was also flooding on roads around the Levin area

Flooding at Hutt Valley

Map Location: -41.162848 174.974804

Comments:

There was surface flooding in the Hutt Valley.

High Wind / Gust at Evans Bay

Map Location: -41.30982 174.80527

Comments:

A yacht was torn from its mooring and washed up on rocks in Evans Bay.

High Wind / Gust at Wainuimata Hill

Map Location: -41.258208 174.954979

Comments:

Some barrier railings were blown loose on the Wainuiomata Hill Road.

West Coast

Flooding at Hokitika

Map Location: -42.717176 170.960959

Comments:

Shops and homes in Hokitika were flooded after very heavy rain. The town recorded 211 mm in the 24 hours leading up to 9 am on 19 June, which was a new June record.

Five ambulances were used to move 46 residents from their retirement home on the night of 18 June. Other West Coast residents self-evacuated, including five tourists from a Hokitika Holiday Park

Tasman-Nelson

Flooding at Golden Bay

Map Location: -40.698766 172.864683

Comments:

The temporary bridge at Young's Creek was almost 1 metre under water, stranding residents of northwestern Golden Bay past Collingwood. Almost 40 children from 20 families who live north of the bridge could not be picked up by a school bus to get to Collingwood Area School and the closure also disrupted businesses.

Canterbury

Snow / Ice at Canterbury

Comments:

About 4500 inland Canterbury homes were without power as lines are weighed down by snow.

Snow / Ice at Mt Somers

Map Location: -43.619696 171.375502

Comments:

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter winched to safety five trampers who were stuck overnight at Pinnacles Hut on the Mt Somers track in mid-Canterbury due to the heavy snow.

Snow / Ice at Mt Hutt

Map Location: -43.471387 171.526568

Comments:

The Mt Hutt ski area was closed due to the avalanche risk after receiving more than 1.2 metres of snow.

Snow / Ice at Geraldine

Map Location: -44.091062 171.227883

Comments:

The Geraldine Civil Defence Area Headquarters was activated and the Timaru District Council Emergency Operations Centre advised residents in snow-affected areas to stay at home and keep warm.

Most schools around Geraldine, Fairlie and Pleasant Point were closed on June 19, as the snow was 30-80 cm on the ground.

References

Headline: Power could be out overnight in Canterbury after storm.: www. stuff.co.nz, 19 June 2015.
Headline: SH1 in Kapiti closed by flooding.: www.stuff.co.nz, 19 June 2015.
Headline: Businesses wake to flooding in Hokitika.: www.stuff.co.nz, 19 June 2015.
Headline: Motorists ignore road closures as snow wreaks havoc in South Canterbury.: www.stuff.co.nz, 19 June 2015.
Headline: Extent of flooding damage unknown: www.radionz.co.nz, 21 June 2015.
Headline: Golden Bay residents stranded by flood: www.stuff.co.nz, 21 June 2015.
Headline: Central North Island swamped in weekend's deluge.: www.stuff.co.nz, 22 June 2015.
Headline: States of emergency remain in drenched lower North Island.: www.stuff.co.nz, 22 June 2015.
Insurance Council of New Zealand (www.icnz.org.nz/current/weather)