NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
March 2014 Canterbury and Lower North Island Storm ( 2014-03-03 )
A deep low to the east of the South Island moved slowly northwards during the period 3-5 March. The very strong winds caused lots of damage, and brought down power lines, cutting the power supply to thousands of homes. Heavy rain caused flooding in Christchurch.
New Zealand
Multi Hazard
at
New Zealand
Duration: 3 days - The storm lasted from 3 to 5 March 2014.
Insurance claims totalled $22.5 million.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 7:30pm 02-Mar-2014: A deep low is expected to lie east of Otago Monday night and then move northeast on Tuesday. A broad area of southwest gales will cover the seas between the low and the South Island. Includes SEVERE SOUTHWEST GALES FOR OTAGO PENINISULA, BANKS PENINSULA AND THE KAIKOURA COAST DEVELOPING OVERNIGHT MONDAY.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 8:59am 03-Mar-2014: Includes SEVERE SOUTHWEST GALES FOR OTAGO PENINISULA, CHRISTCHURCH AND BANKS PENINSULA, THE KAIKOURA COAST AND COASTAL WAIRARAPA SPREADING NORTH FROM MONDAY NIGHT.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 8:39pm 03-Mar-2014: Includes SEVERE SOUTHWEST GALES FOR OTAGO PENINISULA, CHRISTCHURCH AND BANKS PENINSULA, THE KAIKOURA COAST AND COASTAL WAIRARAPA SPREADING NORTH FROM TONIGHT. HEAVY RAIN FOR BANKS PENINSULA AND THE RANGES OF NORTH CANTERBURY TUESDAY TO WEDNESDAY.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 9:00am 04-Mar-2014. Includes SEVERE SOUTHWEST GALES ABOUT COASTAL AREAS FROM OTAGO TO WAIRARAPA, INCLUDING WELLINGTON. HEAVY RAIN FOR BANKS PENINSULA AND THE RANGES OF NORTH CANTERBURY TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 8:29pm 04-Mar-2014. Includes SEVERE SOUTHWEST GALES ABOUT COASTAL AREAS FROM BANKS PENINSULA TO WAIRARAPA, INCLUDING WELLINGTON. HEAVY RAIN FOR BANKS PENINSULA AND THE RANGES OF NORTH CANTERBURY TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 8:39am 05-Mar-2014. Includes HEAVY RAIN OVER BANKS PENINSULA AND CHRISTCHURCH EASING EARLY THIS AFTERNOON AND ABOUT NORTH CANTERBURY TOWARDS EVENING. SEVERE SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST GALES FROM BANKS PENINSULATO UP TO THE KAIKOURA COAST, WELLINGTON AND COASTAL WAIRARAPA GRADUALLY EASING FROM THE SOUTH TODAY.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 4:37pm 05-Mar-2014. Includes HEAVY RAIN OVER CHRISTCHURCH, BANKS PENINSULA AND NORTH CANTERBURY HAS EASED. SEVERE SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST GALES OVER BANKS PENINSULA AND PARTS OF CHRISTCHURCH HAVE EASED, BUT GALES CONTINUE ABOUT THE KAIKOURA COAST, WELLINGTON AND COASTAL WAIRARAPA UNTIL TONIGHT.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 8:09pm 05-Mar-2014. Includes HEAVY RAIN AND SEVERE GALES IN THE NORTHEAST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND AND THE LOWER NORTH ISLAND HAVE EASED.
Canterbury
High Wind / Gust
at
Canterbury
About 7000 households in Canterbury, mostly in the Banks Peninsula area, were without power after gale-force winds caused trees and branches to fall through power lines.
High Wind / Gust
at
Christchurch
The Fire Service responded to reports of roofs lifting off houses in Merivale, Lyttelton, Cass Bay, Birdlings Flat, Aranui, Bishopdale, New Brighton and the city centre.
High Wind / Gust
at
Port Hills
The Christchurch Gondola was closed for the day after staff recorded winds of more than 160km at the top of the Port Hills.
High Wind / Gust
at
Akaroa
Wild weather and power cuts closed most of the shops on Akaroa's main street and caused the cancellation of two cruise ship visits. The seaside town was hit by gusts of up to 130km/h
Yachts broke away from their moorings as the storm hit Akaroa.
All boat tours in Lyttelton and Akaroa harbours were cancelled
Flooding
at
Christchurch
The Christchurch City Council opened a welfare centre for people threatened by flood-waters in east Christchurch.
There was a lot of surface flooding all over Christchurch. At least 50 homes in Richmond, St Albans and Mairehau had flooded.
Flooding has closed multiple roads in low-lying areas of Christchurch, including parts of Shands and New Brighton roads and Fitzgerald Ave.
Heavy Rain
at
Lyttleton
160mm of rain fell on Lyttelton in 24 hours.
Landslide
at
Lyttleton
Police evacuated 19 households from parts of Cressy Terrace, Park Terrace and Brittan Terrace after a landslip above a fuel storage area at the port. The slip occurred below Brittan Terrace, with a cliff face collapsing into a bulk storage tank. The evacuations were precautionary and in response to the possibility of further slips in the area.
Wellington
High Wind / Gust
at
Wellington
Wind gusts in exposed Wellington areas reached 119km/h.
The road around Moa Point on Wellington's South Coast was closed after boulders from the sea wall blew on to the road.
The East by West ferry service between Eastbourne and Wellington City were cancelled.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Cook Strait
Ferry crossings were suspended on 4 March because of high waves through the Cook Strait. The strong southwesterly winds which pounded Cook Strait resulted in a swell between 4.5 to 8 metres.
Hawke's Bay
High Wind / Gust
at
Mahia
The wind gusts near Mahia were recorded as high as 111km/h.
High Wind / Gust
at
Hawke’s Bay Airport
Hawke's Bay Airport experienced wind gusts of 70km/h.
References
- Insurance Council of New Zealand (www.icnz.org.nz/current/weather)
- Headline: Strong winds, rain descend on Bay
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 6 March 2014
- Headline: ‘Once-in-a-century storm finally eases’
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 5 March 2014
- Headline: Harsh storm hammers capital
- www.stuff.co.nz, 5 March 2014
- Headline: High tide worry in storm aftermath.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 5 March 2014
- Headline: Severe gales lift roofs, cut power, fell trees.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 4 March 2014
- Headline: Wild weather closes Akaroa.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 4 March 2014
March 2014 Canterbury and Lower North Island Storm ( 2014-03-03 )
A deep low to the east of the South Island moved slowly northwards during the period 3-5 March. The very strong winds caused lots of damage, and brought down power lines, cutting the power supply to thousands of homes. Heavy rain caused flooding in Christchurch.
New Zealand
Multi Hazard
at
New Zealand
Duration: 3 days - The storm lasted from 3 to 5 March 2014.
Insurance claims totalled $22.5 million.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 7:30pm 02-Mar-2014: A deep low is expected to lie east of Otago Monday night and then move northeast on Tuesday. A broad area of southwest gales will cover the seas between the low and the South Island. Includes SEVERE SOUTHWEST GALES FOR OTAGO PENINISULA, BANKS PENINSULA AND THE KAIKOURA COAST DEVELOPING OVERNIGHT MONDAY.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 8:59am 03-Mar-2014: Includes SEVERE SOUTHWEST GALES FOR OTAGO PENINISULA, CHRISTCHURCH AND BANKS PENINSULA, THE KAIKOURA COAST AND COASTAL WAIRARAPA SPREADING NORTH FROM MONDAY NIGHT.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 8:39pm 03-Mar-2014: Includes SEVERE SOUTHWEST GALES FOR OTAGO PENINISULA, CHRISTCHURCH AND BANKS PENINSULA, THE KAIKOURA COAST AND COASTAL WAIRARAPA SPREADING NORTH FROM TONIGHT. HEAVY RAIN FOR BANKS PENINSULA AND THE RANGES OF NORTH CANTERBURY TUESDAY TO WEDNESDAY.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 9:00am 04-Mar-2014. Includes SEVERE SOUTHWEST GALES ABOUT COASTAL AREAS FROM OTAGO TO WAIRARAPA, INCLUDING WELLINGTON. HEAVY RAIN FOR BANKS PENINSULA AND THE RANGES OF NORTH CANTERBURY TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 8:29pm 04-Mar-2014. Includes SEVERE SOUTHWEST GALES ABOUT COASTAL AREAS FROM BANKS PENINSULA TO WAIRARAPA, INCLUDING WELLINGTON. HEAVY RAIN FOR BANKS PENINSULA AND THE RANGES OF NORTH CANTERBURY TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 8:39am 05-Mar-2014. Includes HEAVY RAIN OVER BANKS PENINSULA AND CHRISTCHURCH EASING EARLY THIS AFTERNOON AND ABOUT NORTH CANTERBURY TOWARDS EVENING. SEVERE SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST GALES FROM BANKS PENINSULATO UP TO THE KAIKOURA COAST, WELLINGTON AND COASTAL WAIRARAPA GRADUALLY EASING FROM THE SOUTH TODAY.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 4:37pm 05-Mar-2014. Includes HEAVY RAIN OVER CHRISTCHURCH, BANKS PENINSULA AND NORTH CANTERBURY HAS EASED. SEVERE SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST GALES OVER BANKS PENINSULA AND PARTS OF CHRISTCHURCH HAVE EASED, BUT GALES CONTINUE ABOUT THE KAIKOURA COAST, WELLINGTON AND COASTAL WAIRARAPA UNTIL TONIGHT.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 8:09pm 05-Mar-2014. Includes HEAVY RAIN AND SEVERE GALES IN THE NORTHEAST OF THE SOUTH ISLAND AND THE LOWER NORTH ISLAND HAVE EASED.
Canterbury
High Wind / Gust
at
Canterbury
About 7000 households in Canterbury, mostly in the Banks Peninsula area, were without power after gale-force winds caused trees and branches to fall through power lines.
High Wind / Gust
at
Christchurch
The Fire Service responded to reports of roofs lifting off houses in Merivale, Lyttelton, Cass Bay, Birdlings Flat, Aranui, Bishopdale, New Brighton and the city centre.
High Wind / Gust
at
Port Hills
The Christchurch Gondola was closed for the day after staff recorded winds of more than 160km at the top of the Port Hills.
High Wind / Gust
at
Akaroa
Wild weather and power cuts closed most of the shops on Akaroa's main street and caused the cancellation of two cruise ship visits. The seaside town was hit by gusts of up to 130km/h
Yachts broke away from their moorings as the storm hit Akaroa.
All boat tours in Lyttelton and Akaroa harbours were cancelled
Flooding
at
Christchurch
The Christchurch City Council opened a welfare centre for people threatened by flood-waters in east Christchurch.
There was a lot of surface flooding all over Christchurch. At least 50 homes in Richmond, St Albans and Mairehau had flooded.
Flooding has closed multiple roads in low-lying areas of Christchurch, including parts of Shands and New Brighton roads and Fitzgerald Ave.
Heavy Rain
at
Lyttleton
160mm of rain fell on Lyttelton in 24 hours.
Landslide
at
Lyttleton
Police evacuated 19 households from parts of Cressy Terrace, Park Terrace and Brittan Terrace after a landslip above a fuel storage area at the port. The slip occurred below Brittan Terrace, with a cliff face collapsing into a bulk storage tank. The evacuations were precautionary and in response to the possibility of further slips in the area.
Wellington
High Wind / Gust
at
Wellington
Wind gusts in exposed Wellington areas reached 119km/h.
The road around Moa Point on Wellington's South Coast was closed after boulders from the sea wall blew on to the road.
The East by West ferry service between Eastbourne and Wellington City were cancelled.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Cook Strait
Ferry crossings were suspended on 4 March because of high waves through the Cook Strait. The strong southwesterly winds which pounded Cook Strait resulted in a swell between 4.5 to 8 metres.
Hawke's Bay
High Wind / Gust
at
Mahia
The wind gusts near Mahia were recorded as high as 111km/h.
High Wind / Gust
at
Hawke’s Bay Airport
Hawke's Bay Airport experienced wind gusts of 70km/h.
References
- Insurance Council of New Zealand (www.icnz.org.nz/current/weather)
- Headline: Strong winds, rain descend on Bay
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 6 March 2014
- Headline: ‘Once-in-a-century storm finally eases’
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 5 March 2014
- Headline: Harsh storm hammers capital
- www.stuff.co.nz, 5 March 2014
- Headline: High tide worry in storm aftermath.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 5 March 2014
- Headline: Severe gales lift roofs, cut power, fell trees.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 4 March 2014
- Headline: Wild weather closes Akaroa.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 4 March 2014