NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
March-April 1954 New Zealand Storm
(
1954-03-30
)
Southerly gales swept Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, Taranaki and Marlborough over a few days. Heavy rain brought flooding and landslides to parts of Gisborne and Hawke's Bay.
New Zealand
Multi Hazard
The storm was caused by a depression northeast of North Cape, which formed two depressions that rotated around each other as they moved south on a path that brought them slowly across Gisborne. After passing Gisborne and Wairoa the depressions swung away from the land towards the Chatham Islands.
From the 30th of March till the 3rd of April.
Landslide
at
North Island
Damage to the inland Gisborne-Wairoa highway brought one of the worst blows suffered to the district's highway system in years. The road was closed on the afternoon of the 31st by slips from the Bluffs section at Hangaroa right through to Te Reinga. The trouble commenced at about 4pm. There was a large washout between Tiniroto and Te Reinga. The road was passable again on the 1st but more heavy slips on the 2nd closed the road for many days. The 14-mile (23-kilometer) section between the Hangaroa Bluffs and Te Reinga was seriously damaged. Almost every cutting on that section was down and the road was undermined in a number of places.
Settlers on the Hangaroa-Waikaremoana road were isloated for three days due to the numerous slips.
Landslide
There were small falls of earth on the railway between Gisborne and Wairoa on the 2nd. A derailment at Beach Loop held up services on the Gisborne-Napier railway for two days.
High Wind / Gust
The average gust speed obtained by averaging for Rotorua, Gisborne and Tauranga was 48 knots (88.9 km/hr) on the 2nd. This had a return period of 10 years.
Gisborne
Multi Hazard
at
Gisborne
A southerly gale swept the Gisborne-East Coast district with a sudden onset overnight on the 30th, bringing periods of heavy rain. The storm began at about 5pm with a blustery wind and steady drizzle and developed into heavy showers and squalls during the night.
Telegraphic communciations both north and south of Gisborne were stopped at about 8pm on the 31st by effects from the storm. By 6:30am the next morning conditions were almost back to normal. The stoppage on the Opotiki circuit was due to rain having brought tree branches down on the line. Telegraph and telephone lines south of Gisborne were badly affected by storm damage overnight on the 2nd.
Extensive damage was done to Cook County roads. All the hill country roads were badly scoured and most were impassable for days because of slips and washouts. Roads on the flat were also damaged, with pot-holes and scouring. The coastal highway north of Gisborne had minor troubles caused by blocked culverts and small slips.
Heavy Rain
Rain drenched the coastal area overnight on the 30th. During the day and night of the 31st Gisborne and the coastal area mainly to the southard received a further heavy drenching.
Recording stations in the Gisborne hinterland reported falls of up to 2 in (5.1 cm) of rain overnight on the 30th.
High Wind / Gust
Only one fallen power pole was reported on the morning of the 31st and a small number of pole fuses were blown.
Lightning
The storm developed electrical aspects late on the afternoon of the 31st and again early on the morning of the 1st, when an exceptionally vivid display of lightning was accompanied by rocking peals of thunder.
A short power outage occurred late on the 31st as a result of lightning effects on the transmission line between Tuai and Patutahi.
Flooding
The level of every hill country stream was raised on the 1st. A flood on the lowlands was averted by a small margin.
Metal scouring was fairly general on all country roads owing to culverts being blocked.
Thousands of tons of wood was carried down by the floodwaters and washed up on Waikanae Beach and for miles along Poverty Bay.
Landslide
at
Beach Loop
A northbound railcar was derailed by a slip near Beach Loop at about midday on the 2nd. The impact of the crash stove in protective steel-work at its front end.
High Wind / Gust
at
Gisborne city
On the 30th and the 1st there were wind gusts up to 45 knots (83 km/hr).
A a velocity of 50 knots (93 km/hr) was reached at 7pm on the 31st.
Throughout the night of the 31st the wind direction ranged from southerly to easterly. Wind velocities were high again during the early hours of the 2nd and averaged 20-28 knots (37-52 km/hr) during that day.
A wind gust reached 50 knots (93 km/hr) at 7:10am on the 2nd.
Heavy Rain
The Gisborne meteorological station recorded 1.77 in (4.5 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 31st.
0.24 in (0.6 cm) of rain fell in 30 minutes between 8:30pm and 9pm on the 30th.
0.20 in (0.5 cm) of rain fell in 30 minutes between 9:45pm and 10:15pm on the 30th.
Steady rain was recorded at the meteorological station from 9am to 1:30pm and between 4:30pm and 7pm on the 31st. The latter falls were accompanied by lightning and thunder. Rain again became heavy early on the morning of the 1st and falls were extremely heavy around Gisborne overnight on the 1st.
The Gisborne meteorological station recorded 0.31 in (0.8 cm) of rain in 1 hour between 5:30am and 6:30am on the 1st.
The Gisborne meteorological station recorded 1.04 in (2.6 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 1st.
Gisborne had an aggregate rainfall of 2.75 in (18.4 cm) in the 24 hours to 9am on the 2nd. This was the heaviest 24-hour fall registered at the meteorological station since August 1, 1950.
0.45 in (1.1 cm) of rain fell in the three hours from 9am to 12pm on the 1st.
1.45 in (3.7cm) of rain fell in the three hours from 6am to 9am on the 2nd.
Darton Field received a total of 7.29 in (18.5 cm) of rain.
Darton Field received 2.75 in (7.0 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 2nd.
Darton Field received 1.45 in (3.7 cm) of rain in three hours between 6am and 9am on the 2nd.
Darton Field received 0.50 in (1.3 cm) of rain in the 30 minutes from 9am on the 2nd.
Multi Hazard
There were two minor cable faults in Gisborne's telephone circuits.
A barometer reading of 988.6 millibars was registered at Darton Field on the morning of the 2nd - one of the lowest readings for a number of years.
The storm produced constant changes in barometeric pressure. On the evening of the 31st the barometer was reading about normal pressure with 1008 millibars, but dropped to 1004 millibars in half an hour, then rose to 1011 millibars in another half an hour.
Lightning
There was a very heavy lightning storm with constant thunder between 5:30am and 6:30am on the 1st. The storm moved across the town from south-east to north-west.
Flooding
Surface water was lying on all low-lying parts of the flat country on the 2nd. Drains and creeks were filled to overflow point. Many houses and businesses were affected by leaks through roofs and by overflows from guttering and downpipes, though no major damage was reported.
A heavy fresh in the Waimata River brought down a considerable quantity of driftwood and debris on the 2nd, which battered the William Pettie bridge. The bridge was closed to traffic during the afternoon.
The swift current of the Wiamata was estimated at about 8 knots (15 km/hr) on the morning of the 2nd.
Maritime / Coastal
High seas accompanied the storm.
A buoy, known as the "black buoy", was torn free from its mooring at the harbour entrance.
Flooding
at
Hangaroa
Just beyond Kent's crossing, a small timber bridge over a stream with a small catchment was damaged overnight on the 1st by debris. The road was covered for some distance by water.
Landslide
The upper end of the Hangaroa-Tahora road was damaged.
The whole surface of the Hangaroa Bluffs over the highway appeared to have been reduced to semi-liquid form.
Flooding
at
Hexton
A small bridge on Maclaurin's Rd, Hexton, had its decking stripped off by a flood in the stream originating in the Hexton hills.
Landslide
at
Kaikoura homestead
There was a major slip on the Kaikoura Hill, 31 miles (50 km) from Gisborne, on the 2nd. It blocked the highway for 1 chain (20 m) to a depth of 5 or 6 ft (1.5-1.8 m).
Flooding
at
Kopuapounamu River
A traffic bridge, approximately 180 ft (55 m) long, across the Kopupounamu Stream, about 6 miles (9.7 km) from the turn-off from the East Coast State highway, was wrecked by a surge of water and debris. Its central 60 ft (18.2 m) steel girder span was carried away. A number of settlers in the Matakaoa County were cut off. Slips from the hillsides apparently blocked the stream during the storm, building up high pressure behind the dam, which then burst, sending a wall of water towards the bridge.
The various tributary creeks cut deeply into the hillsides.
Landslide
at
Mangatuna
A slip of about 1200 yards (1.1 km) of spoil was reported at Mangatuna, about 30 chains (603 m) on the Gisborne side of the new Mangatuna bridge, on the 6th. It was not extensive enough to block the highway.
Flooding
at
Ormond
Floodwaters only broke over riverside stopbanks at the Ormond Dip, at about 5pm on the 2nd, and the flooding there lasted only three or four hours.
The floodwater reached a maximum depth of about 2 ft 6 in (76 cm) above the crown of the State highway through the dip.
Traffic through the dip was only affected for a short time.
Landslide
at
Paparatu homestead
On the Mangapoike Road, a big slip fell near the Paparatu station homestead, blocking the route.
Landslide
at
Saint Leger homestead
The Bushy Knoll-St. Leger's road suffered fairly extensive slipping.
Landslide
at
Tatapouri
Slurry was coming down off the Tatapouri Hill but it was passable.
Heavy Rain
at
Te Karaka
Heavy rain was experienced at Te Karaka.
Te Karaka received 2.18 in (5.5 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 31st.
Te Karaka received 3.32 in (8.4 cm) of rain in the 48 hours to 9am on the 1st.
The Waipaoa River showed no marked rise in level at Te Karaka overnight on the 31st.
Flooding
The Waipaoa River reached the 6 ft (1.8 m) mark at the Kanakanaia bridge at Te Karaka.
At 10:20am on the 2nd the depth gauge of the river showed 13 ft (3.96 m) at Te Karaka.
The Waipaoa River reached a peak of 17 ft 9 in (5.41 m) at Kanakanaia bridge.
Heavy Rain
at
Tiniroto
Tiniroto had rainfall such as the residents had never experienced within living memory.
Mr Jackman's rain gauge recorded a total of 33.78 in (85.8 cm) of rain in five days from the 30th March till the 3rd April.
Mr Jackman's rain gauge recorded 12.1 in (30.7 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 31st.
Mr Jackman's rain gauge recorded 1.01 in (2.6 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 1st.
Mr Jackman's rain gauge recorded 1.45 in (3.7 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 2nd.
Mr Jackman's rain gauge recorded 9.51 in (24.2 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 3rd.
Mr Jackman's rain gauge recorded 9.71 in (24.7 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 4th. This rain actually fell in 15 hours from 9am to about midnight on the 3rd.
Landslide
The countryside in the hill country neighbourhood was reduced to a chaotic condition, with slips scarring the hillsides.
Between the Tiniroto Hotel and the hill approaching it from the Gisborne side, there were seven slips down on the State highway on the morning of the 5th.
Flooding
Every road surface was scoured and partially blocked with debris from flooded streams.
The Tiniroto lake rose to an unprecedented degree during the storm.
The overflow of the lake overtaxed the concrete pipes leading under the highway surface. The culvert was carried away and water overflowed through the State highway south of the township, creating a breach some 30 ft (9.1 m) wide and several feet deep.
The airstrip not far from the township was isolated by a washout which carried away the access road.
Multi Hazard
Settlers in the Tiniroto area were without mail, newspapers or bread deliveries from the 31st till the 5th.
Road communication was cut late on the 30th on both sides of the township and was still cut off on the 5th. The State highway was badly damaged for miles in both directions.
Only a few telephone lines escaped breakdowns.
Heavy Rain
at
Toromiro station
Toromiroa station received 4.53 in (11.5 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 2nd.
Landslide
at
Waimata
The Waimata Valley Road was blocked by slips on the night of the 2nd. Part of the way was reopened on the 3rd.
Heavy Rain
at
Waipaoa River
Heavy rain was carried inland by an easterly swing of the gale and penetrated the northeastern portion of the Waipaoa River catchment, the area which drains into the Waipaoa and Mangatu Rivers, on the day and night of the 1st. The rain produced marked reactions in all the streams in the area.
Flooding
at
Waipaoa station
At Waipaoa station the Waipaoa River rose 6 ft (1.8 m) during the 24 hours to 9am on the 2nd.
The Waingaromia Stream was 11 ft (3.4 m) above normal at about 8am on the 2nd.
Flooding
at
Wharekopae River
The Wharekopai Stream was in a moderate flood on the 2nd.
Landslide
at
Wharerata
A subsidence below the road on the Morere highway broke the surface in the neighbourhood of Mr Tietjen's woolshed on the Wharerata section, about 29 miles (47 km) from Gisborne, during the afternoon of the 31st. Road-passenger transport was interrupted until 9am on the 2nd.
Hawke's Bay
Multi Hazard
at
Hawke's Bay
There were faults in telephone and telegraph lines between Wairoa and Napier.
Landslide
There were reports of extensive slipping in the hill country west and north of Wairoa, where the core of the storm seemed to strike.
16 people from cars, a school bus and a fish van had to spend the night in a cottage due to slips blocking the highway between Marumaru and Wairoa.
Heavy Rain
Rain was heavier in the back country than in Wairoa.
Flooding
Travellers were marooned on the night of the 2nd by deep water on the highway between Ardkeen and Wairoa.
Landslide
at
Ardkeen Hall
There was a serious slip at Ardkeen on the night of the 2nd.
Landslide
at
Mohaka Tunnel
Slight falls of earth were experienced at the Mohaka tunnel entrance on the 2nd.
Lightning
at
Napier
One of the worst thunderstorms in living memory broke over Napier at 7pm on the 31st. Thunder continued with varying intensity for over three hours, accompanied by a vivid lightning display. The storm worked its way out to sea but returned a short time later. At 10pm lightning was lighting up the city and suburbs every 5 seconds.
Thunder rocked houses and ligthning caused electric lights to flicker.
Heavy Rain
Heavy rain accompanied the thunderstorm.
Flooding
At the peak of the storm, water channels in the city area could not cope with the rain and several streets became sheets of water.
Heavy Rain
at
Wairoa
Rain commenced to fall late on the afternoon of the 30th and apart from a short break on the 1st, continued until the 2nd.
Wairoa received 3.57 in (9.1 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 31st.
Wairoa received 2.74 in (7.0 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 1st.
Wairoa received 1.5 in (3.8 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 2nd.
Wairoa received 6.25 in (15.9 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 3rd.
Wairoa received 14.6 in (37.1 cm) of rain from 9am on the 30th up till 9am on the 2nd.
Wairoa received 8.91 in (22.6 cm) of rain from 4pm on the 30th until 9am on the 2nd.
Flooding
Flooding occurred in many parts of the Wairoa area. Stormwater in town drains backed up to the point at which many shop premises were invaded. Little material damage was done.
The level of the Wairoa River rose on the night of the 2nd until driftwood was striking the upper edge of the Wairoa traffic bridge.
On the 5th, silt deposits lay to a depth of 3 ft (91 cm) on the lower banks of the Wairoa River above the traffic bridge, covering the carnival grounds and also the approaches to the Wairoa Boating Club's premises.
Damage to the rowing plant was reported by the Wairoa Boating Club.
Flooding
at
Whakaki
There was surface water on the Wairoa-Gisorne road in the vicinity of Whakaki.
Taranaki
High Wind / Gust
at
Taranaki
A southerly gale swept over Taranaki on the 2nd.
Widespread damage was caused throughout Taranaki. Power lines, fences, wireless aerials, roofs and trees were blown down.
The peak velocity recorded was 74 mph (119 km/hr).
Power interruptions were serious and prolonged.
High Wind / Gust
at
New Plymouth
A truck driver watched as a plate glass shelf on his truck was lifted by the wind and blown as high as the tram wires in Devon St before crashing to the road.
Marlborough
High Wind / Gust
at
Curious Cove
The gales damaged the Marlborough seaboard buildings at the Curious Cove holiday resort. One large structure was wrecked and the force of the wind carried the heavy debris up and over the slopes of a 1200 ft (366 m) hill on the afternoon of the 2nd. Earlier in the day the roof of the proprieter's home was damaged.
High Wind / Gust
at
Queens Charlotte Sound
Southerly gales buffeted Queen Charlotte Sound for four consecutive days from the 30th. The southerly gale was still blowing hard on the 3rd, especially in the outer parts of Queen Charlotte Sound.
Residents living in the outer parts of Queen Charlotte Sound had not had fresh stores from the 30th till the 3rd.
References
- Headline: Southerly gale with heavy rain hits district.
- The Gisborne Herald, 31 March 1954.
- Headline: South highways closed by slips late yesterday.
- The Gisborne Herald, 1 April 1954.
- Headline: Thunder rocks Napier.
- The Gisborne Herald, Source: PA, 1 April 1954.
- Headline: 'Old man' flood feared in Wairoa.
- The Gisborne Herald, 2 April 1954.
- Headline: Peak probably will reach 18ft. at Te Karaka.
- The Gisborne Herald, 2 April 1954.
- Headline: Waipaoa's headwaters swollen by heavy rain.
- The Gisborne Herald, 2 April 1954.
- Headline: Country routes blocked by numerous slips.
- The Gisborne Herald, 3 April 1954.
- Headline: Flood averted by small margin: Peak of 17ft, 9in.
- The Gisborne Herald, 3 April 1954.
- Headline: Line blocked at Beach Loop site of derailment.
- The Gisborne Herald, 3 April 1954.
- Headline: Pettie bridge piles under flood strain.
- The Gisborne Herald, 3 April 1954.
- Headline: Telegraph lines badly affected by rain and gale.
- The Gisborne Herald, 3 April 1954.
- Headline: Tiniroto Road is still blocked: Other routes open.
- The Gisborne Herald, 3 April 1954.
- Headline: Everything from yule logs to kindling.
- The Gisborne Herald, 5 April 1954.
- Headline: Gale wrecks buildings at Holiday Resort.
- The Gisborne Herald, Source: PA, 5 April 1954.
- Headline: Huge volume of water carried by Wairoa River.
- The Gisborne Herald, 5 April 1954.
- Headline: Phenomenal rain isolates Tiniroto: Highway breached.
- The Gisborne Herald, 5 April 1954.
- Headline: Three highways open: Morere Hill stands up.
- The Gisborne Herald, 5 April 1954.
- Headline: Bridge wrecked on Kopupounamu Valley Road.
- The Gisborne Herald, 6 April 1954.
- Headline: Damage to back country roads more than expected.
- The Gisborne Herald, 6 April 1954.
- Headline: Rail service is back to normal: Damage to car.
- The Gisborne Herald, 6 April 1954.
- Headline: Storm produces lowest pressure for years.
- The Gisborne Herald, 6 April 1954.
- Major weather events in New Zealand, Floods and high rainfall, Floods to 31st July 2006.
- Workshop on Wind damage in New Zealand Exotic Forests, Ministry of Forestery, FRI Bullrtin 146, Accounting for New Zealand Plantation's Risk to Wind Damage - facing the facts, David New.
March-April 1954 New Zealand Storm
(
1954-03-30
)
Southerly gales swept Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, Taranaki and Marlborough over a few days. Heavy rain brought flooding and landslides to parts of Gisborne and Hawke's Bay.
New Zealand
Multi Hazard
The storm was caused by a depression northeast of North Cape, which formed two depressions that rotated around each other as they moved south on a path that brought them slowly across Gisborne. After passing Gisborne and Wairoa the depressions swung away from the land towards the Chatham Islands.
From the 30th of March till the 3rd of April.
Landslide
at
North Island
Damage to the inland Gisborne-Wairoa highway brought one of the worst blows suffered to the district's highway system in years. The road was closed on the afternoon of the 31st by slips from the Bluffs section at Hangaroa right through to Te Reinga. The trouble commenced at about 4pm. There was a large washout between Tiniroto and Te Reinga. The road was passable again on the 1st but more heavy slips on the 2nd closed the road for many days. The 14-mile (23-kilometer) section between the Hangaroa Bluffs and Te Reinga was seriously damaged. Almost every cutting on that section was down and the road was undermined in a number of places.
Settlers on the Hangaroa-Waikaremoana road were isloated for three days due to the numerous slips.
Landslide
There were small falls of earth on the railway between Gisborne and Wairoa on the 2nd. A derailment at Beach Loop held up services on the Gisborne-Napier railway for two days.
High Wind / Gust
The average gust speed obtained by averaging for Rotorua, Gisborne and Tauranga was 48 knots (88.9 km/hr) on the 2nd. This had a return period of 10 years.
Gisborne
Multi Hazard
at
Gisborne
A southerly gale swept the Gisborne-East Coast district with a sudden onset overnight on the 30th, bringing periods of heavy rain. The storm began at about 5pm with a blustery wind and steady drizzle and developed into heavy showers and squalls during the night.
Telegraphic communciations both north and south of Gisborne were stopped at about 8pm on the 31st by effects from the storm. By 6:30am the next morning conditions were almost back to normal. The stoppage on the Opotiki circuit was due to rain having brought tree branches down on the line. Telegraph and telephone lines south of Gisborne were badly affected by storm damage overnight on the 2nd.
Extensive damage was done to Cook County roads. All the hill country roads were badly scoured and most were impassable for days because of slips and washouts. Roads on the flat were also damaged, with pot-holes and scouring. The coastal highway north of Gisborne had minor troubles caused by blocked culverts and small slips.
Heavy Rain
Rain drenched the coastal area overnight on the 30th. During the day and night of the 31st Gisborne and the coastal area mainly to the southard received a further heavy drenching.
Recording stations in the Gisborne hinterland reported falls of up to 2 in (5.1 cm) of rain overnight on the 30th.
High Wind / Gust
Only one fallen power pole was reported on the morning of the 31st and a small number of pole fuses were blown.
Lightning
The storm developed electrical aspects late on the afternoon of the 31st and again early on the morning of the 1st, when an exceptionally vivid display of lightning was accompanied by rocking peals of thunder.
A short power outage occurred late on the 31st as a result of lightning effects on the transmission line between Tuai and Patutahi.
Flooding
The level of every hill country stream was raised on the 1st. A flood on the lowlands was averted by a small margin.
Metal scouring was fairly general on all country roads owing to culverts being blocked.
Thousands of tons of wood was carried down by the floodwaters and washed up on Waikanae Beach and for miles along Poverty Bay.
Landslide
at
Beach Loop
A northbound railcar was derailed by a slip near Beach Loop at about midday on the 2nd. The impact of the crash stove in protective steel-work at its front end.
High Wind / Gust
at
Gisborne city
On the 30th and the 1st there were wind gusts up to 45 knots (83 km/hr).
A a velocity of 50 knots (93 km/hr) was reached at 7pm on the 31st.
Throughout the night of the 31st the wind direction ranged from southerly to easterly. Wind velocities were high again during the early hours of the 2nd and averaged 20-28 knots (37-52 km/hr) during that day.
A wind gust reached 50 knots (93 km/hr) at 7:10am on the 2nd.
Heavy Rain
The Gisborne meteorological station recorded 1.77 in (4.5 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 31st.
0.24 in (0.6 cm) of rain fell in 30 minutes between 8:30pm and 9pm on the 30th.
0.20 in (0.5 cm) of rain fell in 30 minutes between 9:45pm and 10:15pm on the 30th.
Steady rain was recorded at the meteorological station from 9am to 1:30pm and between 4:30pm and 7pm on the 31st. The latter falls were accompanied by lightning and thunder. Rain again became heavy early on the morning of the 1st and falls were extremely heavy around Gisborne overnight on the 1st.
The Gisborne meteorological station recorded 0.31 in (0.8 cm) of rain in 1 hour between 5:30am and 6:30am on the 1st.
The Gisborne meteorological station recorded 1.04 in (2.6 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 1st.
Gisborne had an aggregate rainfall of 2.75 in (18.4 cm) in the 24 hours to 9am on the 2nd. This was the heaviest 24-hour fall registered at the meteorological station since August 1, 1950.
0.45 in (1.1 cm) of rain fell in the three hours from 9am to 12pm on the 1st.
1.45 in (3.7cm) of rain fell in the three hours from 6am to 9am on the 2nd.
Darton Field received a total of 7.29 in (18.5 cm) of rain.
Darton Field received 2.75 in (7.0 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 2nd.
Darton Field received 1.45 in (3.7 cm) of rain in three hours between 6am and 9am on the 2nd.
Darton Field received 0.50 in (1.3 cm) of rain in the 30 minutes from 9am on the 2nd.
Multi Hazard
There were two minor cable faults in Gisborne's telephone circuits.
A barometer reading of 988.6 millibars was registered at Darton Field on the morning of the 2nd - one of the lowest readings for a number of years.
The storm produced constant changes in barometeric pressure. On the evening of the 31st the barometer was reading about normal pressure with 1008 millibars, but dropped to 1004 millibars in half an hour, then rose to 1011 millibars in another half an hour.
Lightning
There was a very heavy lightning storm with constant thunder between 5:30am and 6:30am on the 1st. The storm moved across the town from south-east to north-west.
Flooding
Surface water was lying on all low-lying parts of the flat country on the 2nd. Drains and creeks were filled to overflow point. Many houses and businesses were affected by leaks through roofs and by overflows from guttering and downpipes, though no major damage was reported.
A heavy fresh in the Waimata River brought down a considerable quantity of driftwood and debris on the 2nd, which battered the William Pettie bridge. The bridge was closed to traffic during the afternoon.
The swift current of the Wiamata was estimated at about 8 knots (15 km/hr) on the morning of the 2nd.
Maritime / Coastal
High seas accompanied the storm.
A buoy, known as the "black buoy", was torn free from its mooring at the harbour entrance.
Flooding
at
Hangaroa
Just beyond Kent's crossing, a small timber bridge over a stream with a small catchment was damaged overnight on the 1st by debris. The road was covered for some distance by water.
Landslide
The upper end of the Hangaroa-Tahora road was damaged.
The whole surface of the Hangaroa Bluffs over the highway appeared to have been reduced to semi-liquid form.
Flooding
at
Hexton
A small bridge on Maclaurin's Rd, Hexton, had its decking stripped off by a flood in the stream originating in the Hexton hills.
Landslide
at
Kaikoura homestead
There was a major slip on the Kaikoura Hill, 31 miles (50 km) from Gisborne, on the 2nd. It blocked the highway for 1 chain (20 m) to a depth of 5 or 6 ft (1.5-1.8 m).
Flooding
at
Kopuapounamu River
A traffic bridge, approximately 180 ft (55 m) long, across the Kopupounamu Stream, about 6 miles (9.7 km) from the turn-off from the East Coast State highway, was wrecked by a surge of water and debris. Its central 60 ft (18.2 m) steel girder span was carried away. A number of settlers in the Matakaoa County were cut off. Slips from the hillsides apparently blocked the stream during the storm, building up high pressure behind the dam, which then burst, sending a wall of water towards the bridge.
The various tributary creeks cut deeply into the hillsides.
Landslide
at
Mangatuna
A slip of about 1200 yards (1.1 km) of spoil was reported at Mangatuna, about 30 chains (603 m) on the Gisborne side of the new Mangatuna bridge, on the 6th. It was not extensive enough to block the highway.
Flooding
at
Ormond
Floodwaters only broke over riverside stopbanks at the Ormond Dip, at about 5pm on the 2nd, and the flooding there lasted only three or four hours.
The floodwater reached a maximum depth of about 2 ft 6 in (76 cm) above the crown of the State highway through the dip.
Traffic through the dip was only affected for a short time.
Landslide
at
Paparatu homestead
On the Mangapoike Road, a big slip fell near the Paparatu station homestead, blocking the route.
Landslide
at
Saint Leger homestead
The Bushy Knoll-St. Leger's road suffered fairly extensive slipping.
Landslide
at
Tatapouri
Slurry was coming down off the Tatapouri Hill but it was passable.
Heavy Rain
at
Te Karaka
Heavy rain was experienced at Te Karaka.
Te Karaka received 2.18 in (5.5 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 31st.
Te Karaka received 3.32 in (8.4 cm) of rain in the 48 hours to 9am on the 1st.
The Waipaoa River showed no marked rise in level at Te Karaka overnight on the 31st.
Flooding
The Waipaoa River reached the 6 ft (1.8 m) mark at the Kanakanaia bridge at Te Karaka.
At 10:20am on the 2nd the depth gauge of the river showed 13 ft (3.96 m) at Te Karaka.
The Waipaoa River reached a peak of 17 ft 9 in (5.41 m) at Kanakanaia bridge.
Heavy Rain
at
Tiniroto
Tiniroto had rainfall such as the residents had never experienced within living memory.
Mr Jackman's rain gauge recorded a total of 33.78 in (85.8 cm) of rain in five days from the 30th March till the 3rd April.
Mr Jackman's rain gauge recorded 12.1 in (30.7 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 31st.
Mr Jackman's rain gauge recorded 1.01 in (2.6 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 1st.
Mr Jackman's rain gauge recorded 1.45 in (3.7 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 2nd.
Mr Jackman's rain gauge recorded 9.51 in (24.2 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 3rd.
Mr Jackman's rain gauge recorded 9.71 in (24.7 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 4th. This rain actually fell in 15 hours from 9am to about midnight on the 3rd.
Landslide
The countryside in the hill country neighbourhood was reduced to a chaotic condition, with slips scarring the hillsides.
Between the Tiniroto Hotel and the hill approaching it from the Gisborne side, there were seven slips down on the State highway on the morning of the 5th.
Flooding
Every road surface was scoured and partially blocked with debris from flooded streams.
The Tiniroto lake rose to an unprecedented degree during the storm.
The overflow of the lake overtaxed the concrete pipes leading under the highway surface. The culvert was carried away and water overflowed through the State highway south of the township, creating a breach some 30 ft (9.1 m) wide and several feet deep.
The airstrip not far from the township was isolated by a washout which carried away the access road.
Multi Hazard
Settlers in the Tiniroto area were without mail, newspapers or bread deliveries from the 31st till the 5th.
Road communication was cut late on the 30th on both sides of the township and was still cut off on the 5th. The State highway was badly damaged for miles in both directions.
Only a few telephone lines escaped breakdowns.
Heavy Rain
at
Toromiro station
Toromiroa station received 4.53 in (11.5 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 2nd.
Landslide
at
Waimata
The Waimata Valley Road was blocked by slips on the night of the 2nd. Part of the way was reopened on the 3rd.
Heavy Rain
at
Waipaoa River
Heavy rain was carried inland by an easterly swing of the gale and penetrated the northeastern portion of the Waipaoa River catchment, the area which drains into the Waipaoa and Mangatu Rivers, on the day and night of the 1st. The rain produced marked reactions in all the streams in the area.
Flooding
at
Waipaoa station
At Waipaoa station the Waipaoa River rose 6 ft (1.8 m) during the 24 hours to 9am on the 2nd.
The Waingaromia Stream was 11 ft (3.4 m) above normal at about 8am on the 2nd.
Flooding
at
Wharekopae River
The Wharekopai Stream was in a moderate flood on the 2nd.
Landslide
at
Wharerata
A subsidence below the road on the Morere highway broke the surface in the neighbourhood of Mr Tietjen's woolshed on the Wharerata section, about 29 miles (47 km) from Gisborne, during the afternoon of the 31st. Road-passenger transport was interrupted until 9am on the 2nd.
Hawke's Bay
Multi Hazard
at
Hawke's Bay
There were faults in telephone and telegraph lines between Wairoa and Napier.
Landslide
There were reports of extensive slipping in the hill country west and north of Wairoa, where the core of the storm seemed to strike.
16 people from cars, a school bus and a fish van had to spend the night in a cottage due to slips blocking the highway between Marumaru and Wairoa.
Heavy Rain
Rain was heavier in the back country than in Wairoa.
Flooding
Travellers were marooned on the night of the 2nd by deep water on the highway between Ardkeen and Wairoa.
Landslide
at
Ardkeen Hall
There was a serious slip at Ardkeen on the night of the 2nd.
Landslide
at
Mohaka Tunnel
Slight falls of earth were experienced at the Mohaka tunnel entrance on the 2nd.
Lightning
at
Napier
One of the worst thunderstorms in living memory broke over Napier at 7pm on the 31st. Thunder continued with varying intensity for over three hours, accompanied by a vivid lightning display. The storm worked its way out to sea but returned a short time later. At 10pm lightning was lighting up the city and suburbs every 5 seconds.
Thunder rocked houses and ligthning caused electric lights to flicker.
Heavy Rain
Heavy rain accompanied the thunderstorm.
Flooding
At the peak of the storm, water channels in the city area could not cope with the rain and several streets became sheets of water.
Heavy Rain
at
Wairoa
Rain commenced to fall late on the afternoon of the 30th and apart from a short break on the 1st, continued until the 2nd.
Wairoa received 3.57 in (9.1 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 31st.
Wairoa received 2.74 in (7.0 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 1st.
Wairoa received 1.5 in (3.8 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 2nd.
Wairoa received 6.25 in (15.9 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 3rd.
Wairoa received 14.6 in (37.1 cm) of rain from 9am on the 30th up till 9am on the 2nd.
Wairoa received 8.91 in (22.6 cm) of rain from 4pm on the 30th until 9am on the 2nd.
Flooding
Flooding occurred in many parts of the Wairoa area. Stormwater in town drains backed up to the point at which many shop premises were invaded. Little material damage was done.
The level of the Wairoa River rose on the night of the 2nd until driftwood was striking the upper edge of the Wairoa traffic bridge.
On the 5th, silt deposits lay to a depth of 3 ft (91 cm) on the lower banks of the Wairoa River above the traffic bridge, covering the carnival grounds and also the approaches to the Wairoa Boating Club's premises.
Damage to the rowing plant was reported by the Wairoa Boating Club.
Flooding
at
Whakaki
There was surface water on the Wairoa-Gisorne road in the vicinity of Whakaki.
Taranaki
High Wind / Gust
at
Taranaki
A southerly gale swept over Taranaki on the 2nd.
Widespread damage was caused throughout Taranaki. Power lines, fences, wireless aerials, roofs and trees were blown down.
The peak velocity recorded was 74 mph (119 km/hr).
Power interruptions were serious and prolonged.
High Wind / Gust
at
New Plymouth
A truck driver watched as a plate glass shelf on his truck was lifted by the wind and blown as high as the tram wires in Devon St before crashing to the road.
Marlborough
High Wind / Gust
at
Curious Cove
The gales damaged the Marlborough seaboard buildings at the Curious Cove holiday resort. One large structure was wrecked and the force of the wind carried the heavy debris up and over the slopes of a 1200 ft (366 m) hill on the afternoon of the 2nd. Earlier in the day the roof of the proprieter's home was damaged.
High Wind / Gust
at
Queens Charlotte Sound
Southerly gales buffeted Queen Charlotte Sound for four consecutive days from the 30th. The southerly gale was still blowing hard on the 3rd, especially in the outer parts of Queen Charlotte Sound.
Residents living in the outer parts of Queen Charlotte Sound had not had fresh stores from the 30th till the 3rd.
References
- Headline: Southerly gale with heavy rain hits district.
- The Gisborne Herald, 31 March 1954.
- Headline: South highways closed by slips late yesterday.
- The Gisborne Herald, 1 April 1954.
- Headline: Thunder rocks Napier.
- The Gisborne Herald, Source: PA, 1 April 1954.
- Headline: 'Old man' flood feared in Wairoa.
- The Gisborne Herald, 2 April 1954.
- Headline: Peak probably will reach 18ft. at Te Karaka.
- The Gisborne Herald, 2 April 1954.
- Headline: Waipaoa's headwaters swollen by heavy rain.
- The Gisborne Herald, 2 April 1954.
- Headline: Country routes blocked by numerous slips.
- The Gisborne Herald, 3 April 1954.
- Headline: Flood averted by small margin: Peak of 17ft, 9in.
- The Gisborne Herald, 3 April 1954.
- Headline: Line blocked at Beach Loop site of derailment.
- The Gisborne Herald, 3 April 1954.
- Headline: Pettie bridge piles under flood strain.
- The Gisborne Herald, 3 April 1954.
- Headline: Telegraph lines badly affected by rain and gale.
- The Gisborne Herald, 3 April 1954.
- Headline: Tiniroto Road is still blocked: Other routes open.
- The Gisborne Herald, 3 April 1954.
- Headline: Everything from yule logs to kindling.
- The Gisborne Herald, 5 April 1954.
- Headline: Gale wrecks buildings at Holiday Resort.
- The Gisborne Herald, Source: PA, 5 April 1954.
- Headline: Huge volume of water carried by Wairoa River.
- The Gisborne Herald, 5 April 1954.
- Headline: Phenomenal rain isolates Tiniroto: Highway breached.
- The Gisborne Herald, 5 April 1954.
- Headline: Three highways open: Morere Hill stands up.
- The Gisborne Herald, 5 April 1954.
- Headline: Bridge wrecked on Kopupounamu Valley Road.
- The Gisborne Herald, 6 April 1954.
- Headline: Damage to back country roads more than expected.
- The Gisborne Herald, 6 April 1954.
- Headline: Rail service is back to normal: Damage to car.
- The Gisborne Herald, 6 April 1954.
- Headline: Storm produces lowest pressure for years.
- The Gisborne Herald, 6 April 1954.
- Major weather events in New Zealand, Floods and high rainfall, Floods to 31st July 2006.
- Workshop on Wind damage in New Zealand Exotic Forests, Ministry of Forestery, FRI Bullrtin 146, Accounting for New Zealand Plantation's Risk to Wind Damage - facing the facts, David New.