NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
March 2009 Bay of Plenty Flooding
(
2009-03-17
)
An isolated downpour over Tauranga brought surface flooding to the area. Three houses were evacauted due to sewage overflows.
Bay of Plenty
Multi Hazard
Duration: -
There was an anticyclone over New Zealand on the 17th, but over Tauranga some very moist air combined with a low-level convergence zone, causing the extreme convection which became slow moving over Tauranga in the afternoon.
The rainfall was very isolated over the Tauranga area. No heavy rain warning was issued because the rain fell in such a small area.
Flooding
Fire crews in Tauranga, Mount Maunganui and Greerton spent several hours cleaning up flooding and diverting water.
Heavy Rain
at
Greerton
A Greerton property recorded 159 mm (15.9 cm) of rain in the 24 hous to 9am on the 18th.
Heavy Rain
at
Kaimai Range
A station at the Kaimai summit recorded 33 mm (3.3 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to the morning of the 18th, the rain falling on the evening of the 17th and early on the morning of the 18th.
Heavy Rain
at
Lower Kaimai
A fallen tree blocked the eastbound lane of SH29, just past the powerstation in the Kaimai Ranges, for a while.
Flooding
at
Ohauiti
The surge of stormwater caused sewage to spill into Awaiti Place in Ohauiti.
Heavy Rain
at
Pyes Pa
A Pyes Pa property recorded 117 mm (11.7 cm) of rain on the 17th, most of which fell between 7.45am and 5.40pm.
Heavy Rain
at
Tauranga
Tauranga experienced a torrential downpour on the 17th.
Tauranga Airport recorded 72 mm (7.2 cm) of rain in the nine hours from 9am to 6pm on the 17th.
Tauranga Airport recorded 19 mm (1.9 cm) of rain in the hour from 1pm to 2pm on the 17th.
The rain gauge at Memorial Park recorded 140 mm (14.0 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to midnight on the 17th.
The Chapel Street waste water treatment plant recorded 90.8 mm (9.1 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to midnight on the 17th.
The suburb of Parkvale recorded 145 mm (14.5 cm) of rain in 10 hours on the 17th.
Flooding
There was flash flooding in parts of Tauranga, which caused some traffic problems. Five car crashes occurred, although there were no serious injuries.
The basement of a 10th Avenue costume hire shop was flooded and clothing was damaged. The shop Pieces of Eight was badly flooded when drains became blocked, exacerbated by the shop's location in a dip. Swim Magic Swim School on Cypress Street was flooded three times during the day, the worst occasion being just before 6pm. Pacific Toyota on the corner of Elizabeth Street and Cameron Road was also flooded.
The water in Pieces of Eight left a watermark 1 m high along the glass doors and walls.
The surge of stormwater caused manholes to pop up across the city, sending sewage spilling into streets. Affected areas included the bottom of 3rd Avenue West, Pillans Road, and a low-lying area of Ngatai Road.
Three Tauranga houses were evacuated due to the sewage overflow.
The Tauranga City Council warned residents not to have contact with harbour water in the area.
Emergency services received around 40 call-outs, but no major damage was reported.
Landslide
The heavy rain was reported to have caused landslips.
Heavy Rain
at
Te Puke
A property 10 km out of Te Puke recorded 30 mm (3.0 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 7:30am on the 18th.
Heavy Rain
at
Welcome Bay
Awaiti Place in Welcome Bay was said to be the worst hit by the downpour.
References
- Headline: City rain storm 'too small' for warning.
- www.bayofplentytimes.co.nz, 18 March 2009.
- Headline: Flash flooding soaks city.
- www.bayofplentytimes.co.nz, 18 March 2009.
- Headline: City floods solution `complex, expensive'.
- www.bayofplentytimes.co.nz, 19 March 2009.
- Headline: Sewage cleanup to take days.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 18 March 2009, 12:52am.
- Headline: Clean-up after Tauranga storm.
- tvnz.co.nz, Source: Newstalk ZB and ONE News, 18 March 2009, 5:36am.
March 2009 Bay of Plenty Flooding
(
2009-03-17
)
An isolated downpour over Tauranga brought surface flooding to the area. Three houses were evacauted due to sewage overflows.
Bay of Plenty
Multi Hazard
Duration: -
There was an anticyclone over New Zealand on the 17th, but over Tauranga some very moist air combined with a low-level convergence zone, causing the extreme convection which became slow moving over Tauranga in the afternoon.
The rainfall was very isolated over the Tauranga area. No heavy rain warning was issued because the rain fell in such a small area.
Flooding
Fire crews in Tauranga, Mount Maunganui and Greerton spent several hours cleaning up flooding and diverting water.
Heavy Rain
at
Greerton
A Greerton property recorded 159 mm (15.9 cm) of rain in the 24 hous to 9am on the 18th.
Heavy Rain
at
Kaimai Range
A station at the Kaimai summit recorded 33 mm (3.3 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to the morning of the 18th, the rain falling on the evening of the 17th and early on the morning of the 18th.
Heavy Rain
at
Lower Kaimai
A fallen tree blocked the eastbound lane of SH29, just past the powerstation in the Kaimai Ranges, for a while.
Flooding
at
Ohauiti
The surge of stormwater caused sewage to spill into Awaiti Place in Ohauiti.
Heavy Rain
at
Pyes Pa
A Pyes Pa property recorded 117 mm (11.7 cm) of rain on the 17th, most of which fell between 7.45am and 5.40pm.
Heavy Rain
at
Tauranga
Tauranga experienced a torrential downpour on the 17th.
Tauranga Airport recorded 72 mm (7.2 cm) of rain in the nine hours from 9am to 6pm on the 17th.
Tauranga Airport recorded 19 mm (1.9 cm) of rain in the hour from 1pm to 2pm on the 17th.
The rain gauge at Memorial Park recorded 140 mm (14.0 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to midnight on the 17th.
The Chapel Street waste water treatment plant recorded 90.8 mm (9.1 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to midnight on the 17th.
The suburb of Parkvale recorded 145 mm (14.5 cm) of rain in 10 hours on the 17th.
Flooding
There was flash flooding in parts of Tauranga, which caused some traffic problems. Five car crashes occurred, although there were no serious injuries.
The basement of a 10th Avenue costume hire shop was flooded and clothing was damaged. The shop Pieces of Eight was badly flooded when drains became blocked, exacerbated by the shop's location in a dip. Swim Magic Swim School on Cypress Street was flooded three times during the day, the worst occasion being just before 6pm. Pacific Toyota on the corner of Elizabeth Street and Cameron Road was also flooded.
The water in Pieces of Eight left a watermark 1 m high along the glass doors and walls.
The surge of stormwater caused manholes to pop up across the city, sending sewage spilling into streets. Affected areas included the bottom of 3rd Avenue West, Pillans Road, and a low-lying area of Ngatai Road.
Three Tauranga houses were evacuated due to the sewage overflow.
The Tauranga City Council warned residents not to have contact with harbour water in the area.
Emergency services received around 40 call-outs, but no major damage was reported.
Landslide
The heavy rain was reported to have caused landslips.
Heavy Rain
at
Te Puke
A property 10 km out of Te Puke recorded 30 mm (3.0 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 7:30am on the 18th.
Heavy Rain
at
Welcome Bay
Awaiti Place in Welcome Bay was said to be the worst hit by the downpour.
References
- Headline: City rain storm 'too small' for warning.
- www.bayofplentytimes.co.nz, 18 March 2009.
- Headline: Flash flooding soaks city.
- www.bayofplentytimes.co.nz, 18 March 2009.
- Headline: City floods solution `complex, expensive'.
- www.bayofplentytimes.co.nz, 19 March 2009.
- Headline: Sewage cleanup to take days.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 18 March 2009, 12:52am.
- Headline: Clean-up after Tauranga storm.
- tvnz.co.nz, Source: Newstalk ZB and ONE News, 18 March 2009, 5:36am.