NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue

XML

ModerateMarch 1944 Gisborne Flooding ( 1944-03-23 )

Further heavy rain lead to flooding in the Gisborne area for the second time in a fortnight.

Gisborne

Heavy RainHeavy Rain at Gisborne
Duration:   2  days - Heavy rain fell on the 23rd of March leading to flooding on the 24th for the second time in a fortnight.
Comments:
FloodingFlooding
Comments:

Affected LifelineA mile and a half of the railway track was under water near the mouth of the Waipaoa River and was impassable.

Affected LifelineThe railway road service buses between Auckland and Gisborne were unable to get through due to flooding between Opotiki and Gisborne.

LandslideLandslide
Comments:

Affected LifelineThere was a few slips on the hill portion of the railway line between Gisborne and Wairoa. The branch line to Motuhora was blocked by slips.

Heavy RainHeavy Rain at Gisborne City
Comments:

Physical CharacteristicGisborne recorded 3.09 in (7.85 cm) of rain overnight on the 23rd to the 24th.

Multi HazardMulti Hazard
Comments:

Affected LifelineThe Gisborne district was completely isolated although most services were restored by the end of the day on the 24th.

LandslideLandslide
Comments:

Affected LifelineThere were slips on the main north road which were cleaned up within a day. Outlets to the douth remained open as far as Wairoa, south of which further slipping occurred on the road.

High Wind GustsHigh Wind / Gust
Comments:

DamageThe storm in the coastal area was of great force, levelling trees and breaking phone lines in some places.

Affected LifelineThe electric-power supply to Gisborne was cut off by a break in the main transmission line from Tuai and the standing plant had to take the emergency load for six hours before the break was repaired.

Heavy RainHeavy Rain at Te Karaka
Comments:

Physical CharacteristicTe Karaka recorded 3.32 in (8.43 cm) of rain overnight on the 23rd to the 24th.

Heavy RainHeavy Rain at Tikitiki
Comments:

Physical CharacteristicTikitiki recorded 6.06 in (15.39 cm) of rain overnight on the 23rd to the 24th.

FloodingFlooding at Waipaoa River
Comments:

ImpactWaipaoa River broke its banks on the morning of the 24th of March for the second time in a fortnight.

Affected LifelineThe river first came through a breach in the stopbank at Waerengaahika which was made to drain water from the earlierflood. On the morning of the 24th water was spilling over the banks, while lower down it began sweeping across a portion of the flat land and covered a wide area near the mouth.

CommentThe flood level began to recede in the afternoon of the 24th.

Stock DamageThere were no stock losses as farmers were warned in time.

ImpactMany farmers who had already resown pastures silted by the earlier flood had all their labour and money wiped out by further silting.

References

Headline: Flooded Again, Areas About Gisborne, Heavy Falls of Rain.
The New Zealand Herald, 25 March (Saturday) 1944.

ModerateMarch 1944 Gisborne Flooding ( 1944-03-23 )

Further heavy rain lead to flooding in the Gisborne area for the second time in a fortnight.

Gisborne

Heavy RainHeavy Rain at Gisborne
Duration:   2  days - Heavy rain fell on the 23rd of March leading to flooding on the 24th for the second time in a fortnight.
Comments:
FloodingFlooding
Comments:

Affected LifelineA mile and a half of the railway track was under water near the mouth of the Waipaoa River and was impassable.

Affected LifelineThe railway road service buses between Auckland and Gisborne were unable to get through due to flooding between Opotiki and Gisborne.

LandslideLandslide
Comments:

Affected LifelineThere was a few slips on the hill portion of the railway line between Gisborne and Wairoa. The branch line to Motuhora was blocked by slips.

Heavy RainHeavy Rain at Gisborne City
Comments:

Physical CharacteristicGisborne recorded 3.09 in (7.85 cm) of rain overnight on the 23rd to the 24th.

Multi HazardMulti Hazard
Comments:

Affected LifelineThe Gisborne district was completely isolated although most services were restored by the end of the day on the 24th.

LandslideLandslide
Comments:

Affected LifelineThere were slips on the main north road which were cleaned up within a day. Outlets to the douth remained open as far as Wairoa, south of which further slipping occurred on the road.

High Wind GustsHigh Wind / Gust
Comments:

DamageThe storm in the coastal area was of great force, levelling trees and breaking phone lines in some places.

Affected LifelineThe electric-power supply to Gisborne was cut off by a break in the main transmission line from Tuai and the standing plant had to take the emergency load for six hours before the break was repaired.

Heavy RainHeavy Rain at Te Karaka
Comments:

Physical CharacteristicTe Karaka recorded 3.32 in (8.43 cm) of rain overnight on the 23rd to the 24th.

Heavy RainHeavy Rain at Tikitiki
Comments:

Physical CharacteristicTikitiki recorded 6.06 in (15.39 cm) of rain overnight on the 23rd to the 24th.

FloodingFlooding at Waipaoa River
Comments:

ImpactWaipaoa River broke its banks on the morning of the 24th of March for the second time in a fortnight.

Affected LifelineThe river first came through a breach in the stopbank at Waerengaahika which was made to drain water from the earlierflood. On the morning of the 24th water was spilling over the banks, while lower down it began sweeping across a portion of the flat land and covered a wide area near the mouth.

CommentThe flood level began to recede in the afternoon of the 24th.

Stock DamageThere were no stock losses as farmers were warned in time.

ImpactMany farmers who had already resown pastures silted by the earlier flood had all their labour and money wiped out by further silting.

References

Headline: Flooded Again, Areas About Gisborne, Heavy Falls of Rain.
The New Zealand Herald, 25 March (Saturday) 1944.