NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
March 2016 New Zealand Storm ( 2016-03-24 )
A period of extreme weather affected many areas of New Zealand on 24 March. There was flooding on the West Coast of the South Island, and around the Nelson area. Strong winds affected areas around Auckland and Northland.
New Zealand
Multi Hazard
at
New Zealand
Insurance claims totalled $30.2 million.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 7:54pm 22-Mar-2016. A STRONG MOIST NORTHEASTERLY FLOW BRINGS HEAVY RAIN AND SEVERE GALES TO MANY PARTS OF THE COUNTRY A strong northeasterly flow is expected to bring a very warm and moist airmass onto New Zealand on Wednesday and Thursday. The heaviest rain on Wednesday and early Thursday is likely to affect Northland, Mt Taranaki, Marlborough, Nelson, Buller and Westland.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 8:54pm 23-Mar-2016. A STRONG MOIST NORTHEASTERLY FLOW BRINGS HEAVY RAIN AND SEVERE GALES TO MANY PARTS OF THE COUNTRY A trough, preceded by a strong moist northeasterly flow is bringing significant rain to northern and western parts of both islands.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 7:10am 24-Mar-2016. A STRONG MOIST NORTHEASTERLY FLOW BRINGS HEAVY RAIN AND SEVERE GALES TO MANY PARTS OF THE COUNTRY Updated at 7:12am to add severe gale warning for Wellington.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 9:04am 24-Mar-2016. A STRONG MOIST NORTHEASTERLY FLOW BRINGS HEAVY RAIN AND SEVERE GALES TO PARTS OF THE NORTH ISLAND A trough preceded by a strong moist northeasterly flow has already brought heavy rain to many parts of the country. The trough should clear the South Island this morning and move slowly east across the North Island today and overnight. While the heavy rain over the South Island has eased there is more to come for parts of the North Island.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 11:15am 24-Mar-2016. A STRONG MOIST NORTHEASTERLY FLOW BRINGS HEAVY RAIN AND SEVERE GALES TO PARTS OF THE NORTH ISLAND.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 8:34pm 24-Mar-2016. HEAVY RAIN AFFECTING EASTERN BAY OF PLENTY AND NORTHERN GISBORNE EXPECTED TO EASE FRIDAY MORNING.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 8:00am 25-Mar-2016. HEAVY RAIN AFFECTING EASTERN BAY OF PLENTY AND NORTHERN GISBORNE HAS EASED.
West Coast
Multi Hazard
at
West Coast
A local state of emergency was declared in the Franz Josef and Waiau region due to the extreme flooding.
Flooding
at
Franz Josef
186 people were evacuated from Scenic Circle Hotel, Top Ten Holiday Park, and Westwood Lodge in Franz Josef.
State Highway 6 north of Franz Josef township was closed for a time.
Tasman-Nelson
Multi Hazard
at
Tasman_Nelson
Civil Defence activated its emergency operations centre in Richmond and a Civil Defence team was in place at the Motueka Recreation Centre.
State Highway 60 was closed at Riwaka, and between Upper Takaka and Collingwood.
The Nelson council warned against collecting shellfish and swimming in Tahunanui Beach, Waimea Estuary and Nelson Haven after sewage overflowed from pump stations.
Flooding
at
Motueka
There was extensive surface flooding in Motueka.
A number of camper-vans were towed out of the Alexander Bluff Reserve, next to the Motueka River, as they were surrounded by water.
12 homes were evacuated in Motueka.
Flooding
at
Riwaka
Homes in the Riwaka township were evacuated after heavy rainfall caused the river to break its banks. A Civil Defence spokesperson said that flooding on the north branch of the Riwaka River was a one in 50-year event.
Auckland
High Wind / Gust
at
Auckland
Strong winds brought down trees, which then brought down power lines, affecting up to 18,000 homes and businesses in Auckland at the peak of the problem. The worst affected areas were around Warkworth, Waiheke Island, and the eastern bays of the North Shore.
A cruise ship waited in the Hauraki Gulf for winds to die down, before it would dock in the Auckland Harbour.
The Fire Service attended about 45 storm related callouts in Auckland. They included clearing trees from roads or power lines, calls to arching powerlines and helping to secure roofs that were lifting.
Northland
High Wind / Gust
at
Northland
About 6000 homes and businesses in Northland lost power due to the strong winds bringing down power lines.
The areas worst hit by high winds, heavy rain and falling trees were Taipa, Kaikohe, Moerewa, Kawakawa and rural Kaitaia.
References
- Insurance Council of New Zealand (www.icnz.org.nz/current/weather)
- Headline: Wild weather: What you need to know
- www.radionz.co.nz, 24 March 2016.
- Headline: Homes evacuated in Riwaka after '50-year event' flooding.
- www. stuff.co.nz, 24 March 2016.
- Headline: Tourists evacuated, state of emergency, after West Coast river breaks banks.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 24 March 2016.
- Headline: Evacuations and homes without power as wild weather batters country.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 24 March 2016.
- Headline: Live: Evacuations and homes without power as storms batter country.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 24 March 2016.
- Headline: Heavy rain, winds hit most of NZ
- www.radionz.co.nz, 24 March 2016.
- Headline: Power outages as stormy weather hits Auckland, Northland.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 24 March 2016.
March 2016 New Zealand Storm ( 2016-03-24 )
A period of extreme weather affected many areas of New Zealand on 24 March. There was flooding on the West Coast of the South Island, and around the Nelson area. Strong winds affected areas around Auckland and Northland.
New Zealand
Multi Hazard
at
New Zealand
Insurance claims totalled $30.2 million.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 7:54pm 22-Mar-2016. A STRONG MOIST NORTHEASTERLY FLOW BRINGS HEAVY RAIN AND SEVERE GALES TO MANY PARTS OF THE COUNTRY A strong northeasterly flow is expected to bring a very warm and moist airmass onto New Zealand on Wednesday and Thursday. The heaviest rain on Wednesday and early Thursday is likely to affect Northland, Mt Taranaki, Marlborough, Nelson, Buller and Westland.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 8:54pm 23-Mar-2016. A STRONG MOIST NORTHEASTERLY FLOW BRINGS HEAVY RAIN AND SEVERE GALES TO MANY PARTS OF THE COUNTRY A trough, preceded by a strong moist northeasterly flow is bringing significant rain to northern and western parts of both islands.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 7:10am 24-Mar-2016. A STRONG MOIST NORTHEASTERLY FLOW BRINGS HEAVY RAIN AND SEVERE GALES TO MANY PARTS OF THE COUNTRY Updated at 7:12am to add severe gale warning for Wellington.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 9:04am 24-Mar-2016. A STRONG MOIST NORTHEASTERLY FLOW BRINGS HEAVY RAIN AND SEVERE GALES TO PARTS OF THE NORTH ISLAND A trough preceded by a strong moist northeasterly flow has already brought heavy rain to many parts of the country. The trough should clear the South Island this morning and move slowly east across the North Island today and overnight. While the heavy rain over the South Island has eased there is more to come for parts of the North Island.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 11:15am 24-Mar-2016. A STRONG MOIST NORTHEASTERLY FLOW BRINGS HEAVY RAIN AND SEVERE GALES TO PARTS OF THE NORTH ISLAND.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 8:34pm 24-Mar-2016. HEAVY RAIN AFFECTING EASTERN BAY OF PLENTY AND NORTHERN GISBORNE EXPECTED TO EASE FRIDAY MORNING.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 8:00am 25-Mar-2016. HEAVY RAIN AFFECTING EASTERN BAY OF PLENTY AND NORTHERN GISBORNE HAS EASED.
West Coast
Multi Hazard
at
West Coast
A local state of emergency was declared in the Franz Josef and Waiau region due to the extreme flooding.
Flooding
at
Franz Josef
186 people were evacuated from Scenic Circle Hotel, Top Ten Holiday Park, and Westwood Lodge in Franz Josef.
State Highway 6 north of Franz Josef township was closed for a time.
Tasman-Nelson
Multi Hazard
at
Tasman_Nelson
Civil Defence activated its emergency operations centre in Richmond and a Civil Defence team was in place at the Motueka Recreation Centre.
State Highway 60 was closed at Riwaka, and between Upper Takaka and Collingwood.
The Nelson council warned against collecting shellfish and swimming in Tahunanui Beach, Waimea Estuary and Nelson Haven after sewage overflowed from pump stations.
Flooding
at
Motueka
There was extensive surface flooding in Motueka.
A number of camper-vans were towed out of the Alexander Bluff Reserve, next to the Motueka River, as they were surrounded by water.
12 homes were evacuated in Motueka.
Flooding
at
Riwaka
Homes in the Riwaka township were evacuated after heavy rainfall caused the river to break its banks. A Civil Defence spokesperson said that flooding on the north branch of the Riwaka River was a one in 50-year event.
Auckland
High Wind / Gust
at
Auckland
Strong winds brought down trees, which then brought down power lines, affecting up to 18,000 homes and businesses in Auckland at the peak of the problem. The worst affected areas were around Warkworth, Waiheke Island, and the eastern bays of the North Shore.
A cruise ship waited in the Hauraki Gulf for winds to die down, before it would dock in the Auckland Harbour.
The Fire Service attended about 45 storm related callouts in Auckland. They included clearing trees from roads or power lines, calls to arching powerlines and helping to secure roofs that were lifting.
Northland
High Wind / Gust
at
Northland
About 6000 homes and businesses in Northland lost power due to the strong winds bringing down power lines.
The areas worst hit by high winds, heavy rain and falling trees were Taipa, Kaikohe, Moerewa, Kawakawa and rural Kaitaia.
References
- Insurance Council of New Zealand (www.icnz.org.nz/current/weather)
- Headline: Wild weather: What you need to know
- www.radionz.co.nz, 24 March 2016.
- Headline: Homes evacuated in Riwaka after '50-year event' flooding.
- www. stuff.co.nz, 24 March 2016.
- Headline: Tourists evacuated, state of emergency, after West Coast river breaks banks.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 24 March 2016.
- Headline: Evacuations and homes without power as wild weather batters country.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 24 March 2016.
- Headline: Live: Evacuations and homes without power as storms batter country.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 24 March 2016.
- Headline: Heavy rain, winds hit most of NZ
- www.radionz.co.nz, 24 March 2016.
- Headline: Power outages as stormy weather hits Auckland, Northland.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 24 March 2016.