NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
March 2019 South Island Flooding ( 2019-03-24 )
A strong, warm northwest flow covered the South Island, with several fronts slowly crossed the island. In addition, a warmer than usual Tasman Sea resulted in heavier rain (some parts of Westland had up to 800 mm during the downpour) than would normally occur. The heavy rain raised rivers to record levels. There were many slips and flooding that damaged property and closed roads. Haast experienced a one-in-100-year flood.
West Coast
Flooding
at
West Coast
Insurance claims totalled $4.09 million.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 9:01 pm Sunday 24-Mar-2019. Significant heavy rain for Westland, Fiordland and the Canterbury and Otago Headwaters.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 8:50 pm Monday 25-Mar-2019. Severe weather over the South Island, with heavy rain in the west and northwest gales in the east.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 8:29 pm Tuesday 26-Mar-2019. Severe weather over central and southern New Zealand, with heavy rain in the west and northwest gales in the east.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 8:11 pm Wednesday 27-Mar-2019. Rain and northwesterly winds across central and southern New Zealand has eased.
A state of emergency was declared in Westland as torrential rain brought widespread flooding.
The main road from Haast all the way north to Hokitika was closed. Ritchies Bus Services suspended all bus services for the whole of the West Coast on 27 March.
Flooding
at
Waiho Bridge
The Waiho Bridge, which is a vital link for the tourism-dependent West Coast, was washed away by the floodwaters on 26 March. The bridge was rebuilt in 18 days. It’s estimated that hospitality and accommodation businesses from Hokitika to Haast lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in cancelled bookings while the bridge was down.
Flooding
at
Arahura River
A woman died after being washed away by the Arahura River.
Heavy Rain
at
Cropp River
The rainfall station at Cropp River recorded 1086mm over 48 hours from the 25th to the 27th, which was a new two-day rainfall record for New Zealand.
Southland
Heavy Rain
at
Milford Sound
The rainfall station at Milford Sound recorded 401mm on the 25th.
Canterbury
Landslide
at
Arthur’s Pass
SH73 from Arthur’s Pass through to Otira was closed due to a slip at Candy’s Creek.
References
- Meteorological Society of New Zealand (Inc.), Newsletter 157, Winter 2019
- Insurance Council of New Zealand (https://www.icnz.org.nz/natural-disasters/cost-of-natural-disasters/)
- Headline: As it happens: West Coast bridge washed away as rivers reach record levels.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 26 March 2019.
- Headline: Live updates: West Coast flooding day 2.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 27 March 2019.
- Headline: West Coast Weather: What you need to know.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 27 March 2019.
- Headline: Coasters on clean-up duty have till Sunday before the rain returns.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 27 March 2019.
- Headline: Vital Waiho River bridge reopens, reconnecting a recovering West Coast.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 13 April 2019.
March 2019 South Island Flooding ( 2019-03-24 )
A strong, warm northwest flow covered the South Island, with several fronts slowly crossed the island. In addition, a warmer than usual Tasman Sea resulted in heavier rain (some parts of Westland had up to 800 mm during the downpour) than would normally occur. The heavy rain raised rivers to record levels. There were many slips and flooding that damaged property and closed roads. Haast experienced a one-in-100-year flood.
West Coast
Flooding
at
West Coast
Insurance claims totalled $4.09 million.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 9:01 pm Sunday 24-Mar-2019. Significant heavy rain for Westland, Fiordland and the Canterbury and Otago Headwaters.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 8:50 pm Monday 25-Mar-2019. Severe weather over the South Island, with heavy rain in the west and northwest gales in the east.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 8:29 pm Tuesday 26-Mar-2019. Severe weather over central and southern New Zealand, with heavy rain in the west and northwest gales in the east.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 8:11 pm Wednesday 27-Mar-2019. Rain and northwesterly winds across central and southern New Zealand has eased.
A state of emergency was declared in Westland as torrential rain brought widespread flooding.
The main road from Haast all the way north to Hokitika was closed. Ritchies Bus Services suspended all bus services for the whole of the West Coast on 27 March.
Flooding
at
Waiho Bridge
The Waiho Bridge, which is a vital link for the tourism-dependent West Coast, was washed away by the floodwaters on 26 March. The bridge was rebuilt in 18 days. It’s estimated that hospitality and accommodation businesses from Hokitika to Haast lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in cancelled bookings while the bridge was down.
Flooding
at
Arahura River
A woman died after being washed away by the Arahura River.
Heavy Rain
at
Cropp River
The rainfall station at Cropp River recorded 1086mm over 48 hours from the 25th to the 27th, which was a new two-day rainfall record for New Zealand.
Southland
Heavy Rain
at
Milford Sound
The rainfall station at Milford Sound recorded 401mm on the 25th.
Canterbury
Landslide
at
Arthur’s Pass
SH73 from Arthur’s Pass through to Otira was closed due to a slip at Candy’s Creek.
References
- Meteorological Society of New Zealand (Inc.), Newsletter 157, Winter 2019
- Insurance Council of New Zealand (https://www.icnz.org.nz/natural-disasters/cost-of-natural-disasters/)
- Headline: As it happens: West Coast bridge washed away as rivers reach record levels.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 26 March 2019.
- Headline: Live updates: West Coast flooding day 2.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 27 March 2019.
- Headline: West Coast Weather: What you need to know.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 27 March 2019.
- Headline: Coasters on clean-up duty have till Sunday before the rain returns.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 27 March 2019.
- Headline: Vital Waiho River bridge reopens, reconnecting a recovering West Coast.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 13 April 2019.