NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
May 1926 New Zealand Storm
(
1926-05-03
)
Heavy rain, flooding, thunderstorms and high winds hit areas of New Zealand causing damage to property and roads.
New Zealand
Multi Hazard
at
New Zealand
Duration: 3 days - From the 3rd to the 5th of May.
Auckland
Multi Hazard
at
Auckland
A hard gale was blowing from the west on the 4th to the 5th. Heavy rain preceded the gale.
Frequent rain squalls blew with gale force accompanied by heavy hail on the 5th.
Maritime / Coastal
There were rough seas in the harbour and ferry steamers and other small vessels had considerable difficulty making headway.
Many ships were delayed.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Manukau Heads
At Manukau Heads, the sea became heavy and the bar became to rough for steamers to cross from the 4th to the 5th.
Waikato
Multi Hazard
at
Hamilton
Wintry and stormy conditions prevailed in the Waikato for a few days up to the 3rd.
Heavy Rain
Torrential rain fell on the night of the 3rd. Heavy rain was experienced over the last four days and 1.87 in (4.75 cm) of rain fell since the 1st.
Flooding
The Waikato River has swollen considerably and was 5 ft (1.52 m) above normal in Hamilton.
High Wind / Gust
at
Kawhia
A violent westerly gale swept the district on the night of the 3rd accompanied by heavy rain.
Landslide
Damage was done to roads through landslides.
Maritime / Coastal
Coastal steamers were held up.
Multi Hazard
at
Mahoenui
Heavy weather was reported from all parts of the surrounding district and the roads have been damaged or blocked in some parts.
Landslide
Heavy rain caused a slip on the main road at Mahoenui on the 3rd and the through route from Te Kuiti to New Plymouth was blocked.
The slip occurred near the approach to the Awakino Valley.
On the Waitete Road there was a scour 6 ft (1.83 m) wide.
Multi Hazard
at
Ngaruawahia
The weather was very stormy on the 5th. A gale was accompanied by heavy rain, hail and thunder.
Heavy Rain
at
Otorohanga
Otorohanga recorded 1.17 in (2.97 cm) of rain on the 2nd.
Otorohanga recorded 1.02 in (2.59 cm) of rain on the 3rd.
Otorohanga recorded 0.52 in (1.32 cm) of rain on the 4th.
Flooding
at
Rangiriri
The Waikato River was one foot (0.30 m) from the road at Rangiriri.
Taranaki
Lightning
at
New Plymouth
There was a fierce westerly thunderstorm on the evening of the 3rd.
The electric power service was affected by lightning in the evening due to a large pine tree falling across the road and breaking the main service lines to Waitara.
Telephone users had unpleasant experiences from shocks transmitted from the lightning flashes.
West End school was struck by lightning on the 3rd. The lightning travelled along the electrical wires to the meter, which exploded, shattering the windows in the classroom. No pupils were injuried.
On the 5th, a fire was started in town as a result of lightning striking some telephone wires. Telegraph communication was maintained by substitute lines.
Maritime / Coastal
Fierce seas were raging outside the port from the 3rd until the 5th. Tremendous waves swept the breakwater at high tide and smashed in the end of the watersiders shed and did considerable damage.
Lightning
at
Waitara
Waitara was completely cut off.
Manawatu-Wanganui
Flooding
at
Matiere
Matiere suffered extensively and 2 ft (0.61 m) of water entered some of the houses.
Flooding
at
Ongarue River
Ongarue River was in high flood.
Flooding
at
Otangiwai
Three bridges were washed away at Otangiwai.
Flooding
at
Putiki
A body of an elderly man was found floating down the Whanganui River on the 5th.
Flooding
at
Taringamotu
Taringamotu Bridge and the stock bridge in Taringamotu Valley was washed away.
Flooding
at
Taumarunui
The damage to roads and bridges in the Taumarunui district cost £2100 ($178,740 2009 dollars).
Heavy Rain
at
Whanganui River
Abnormal rainfall in the back country caused the river to flood on the 3rd.
Flooding
The river rose 14 ft (4.27 m) above the Pipikiri Wharf and was still rising on the 3rd.
The river was bringing down huge quantities of pumice, timber and driftwood.
There were three dead cattle and two pigs washed up on the Taylorville bank.
Maritime / Coastal
The seas were very rough and shipping was having a hard time.
Wellington
Maritime / Coastal
at
Wellington
The storm on the 5th delayed the Shaw, Saville and Albion liner Tonic. She was due at Wellington on the 6th with over 500 passengers from England.
Tasman-Nelson
High Wind / Gust
at
Nelson
A storm hit Nelson at 10:00pm on the 3rd and caused considerable destruction to property.
Fences were torn down, outhouses were destroyed and homes were damaged.
There was no loss of life.
The storm came from the sea and its track was from the north-weatern corner of Wainui Street in a south-easterly direction to Hardy Street.
On Elliot Street, a slab of timber from a stack was blown 30-40 yards (27-37 m) through a bedroom window. A man received only a slight cut to his face.
On Elliot Street, a chicken house was carried 40 yards (37 m) away.
A glasshouse valued at £300 ($25,530 2009 dollars) was destroyed.
A shed in Milton Grove had the iron torn off, the walls burst in and the door wretched from its hinges. At the same location, a chicken house was found upside down and 50 ft away from its original position.
Te Rangi Private Hospital, in Collingwood Street, had the tiles of the roof tron off, and heavy rain caused water damage to the building.
West Coast
Flooding
at
Greymouth
Flood waters in the Grey River carried away a pier and two spans of the Blackball end of the Blackball-Ngahere Bridge.
Traffic was not resumed for three weeks.
References
- Cowie, C.A; Attwood, A.K.(1957) FLOODS in NEW ZEALAND 1920 -53, The Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand 239p.
- Headline: Damage to roads, A slip at Mahoenui.
- The New Zealand Herald, 5 May 1926.
- Headline: Flood damages bridge, serious gap in railway.
- The New Zealand Herald, 5 May 1926.
- Headline: Gail in Taranaki, Heavy seas on coast.
- The New Zealand Herald, 5 May 1926.
- Headline: Hamilton and Kawhia, rough weather reported.
- The New Zealand Herald, 5 May 1926.
- Headline: Report from Taumarunui, the rivers subsiding.
- The New Zealand Herald, 5 May 1926.
- Headline: Storm in Auckland, biosterous conditions.
- The New Zealand Herald, 5 May 1926.
- Headline: Tempestuous Weather, Damage Done in Nelson.
- The New Zealand Herald, 5 May 1926.
- Headline: The Wanganui in flood, Heavy rains inland.
- The New Zealand Herald, 5 May 1926.
- Headline: Boisterous weather, conditions in the city.
- The New Zealand Herald, 6 May 1926.
- Headline: Damage by lightning, position in Taranaki
- The New Zealand Herald, 6 May 1926.
- Headline: Report from country, the rising of rivers.
- The New Zealand Herald, 6 May 1926.
- Headline: The Wanganui in flood, Maoris discover body.
- The New Zealand Herald, 6 May 1926.
May 1926 New Zealand Storm
(
1926-05-03
)
Heavy rain, flooding, thunderstorms and high winds hit areas of New Zealand causing damage to property and roads.
New Zealand
Multi Hazard
at
New Zealand
Duration: 3 days - From the 3rd to the 5th of May.
Auckland
Multi Hazard
at
Auckland
A hard gale was blowing from the west on the 4th to the 5th. Heavy rain preceded the gale.
Frequent rain squalls blew with gale force accompanied by heavy hail on the 5th.
Maritime / Coastal
There were rough seas in the harbour and ferry steamers and other small vessels had considerable difficulty making headway.
Many ships were delayed.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Manukau Heads
At Manukau Heads, the sea became heavy and the bar became to rough for steamers to cross from the 4th to the 5th.
Waikato
Multi Hazard
at
Hamilton
Wintry and stormy conditions prevailed in the Waikato for a few days up to the 3rd.
Heavy Rain
Torrential rain fell on the night of the 3rd. Heavy rain was experienced over the last four days and 1.87 in (4.75 cm) of rain fell since the 1st.
Flooding
The Waikato River has swollen considerably and was 5 ft (1.52 m) above normal in Hamilton.
High Wind / Gust
at
Kawhia
A violent westerly gale swept the district on the night of the 3rd accompanied by heavy rain.
Landslide
Damage was done to roads through landslides.
Maritime / Coastal
Coastal steamers were held up.
Multi Hazard
at
Mahoenui
Heavy weather was reported from all parts of the surrounding district and the roads have been damaged or blocked in some parts.
Landslide
Heavy rain caused a slip on the main road at Mahoenui on the 3rd and the through route from Te Kuiti to New Plymouth was blocked.
The slip occurred near the approach to the Awakino Valley.
On the Waitete Road there was a scour 6 ft (1.83 m) wide.
Multi Hazard
at
Ngaruawahia
The weather was very stormy on the 5th. A gale was accompanied by heavy rain, hail and thunder.
Heavy Rain
at
Otorohanga
Otorohanga recorded 1.17 in (2.97 cm) of rain on the 2nd.
Otorohanga recorded 1.02 in (2.59 cm) of rain on the 3rd.
Otorohanga recorded 0.52 in (1.32 cm) of rain on the 4th.
Flooding
at
Rangiriri
The Waikato River was one foot (0.30 m) from the road at Rangiriri.
Taranaki
Lightning
at
New Plymouth
There was a fierce westerly thunderstorm on the evening of the 3rd.
The electric power service was affected by lightning in the evening due to a large pine tree falling across the road and breaking the main service lines to Waitara.
Telephone users had unpleasant experiences from shocks transmitted from the lightning flashes.
West End school was struck by lightning on the 3rd. The lightning travelled along the electrical wires to the meter, which exploded, shattering the windows in the classroom. No pupils were injuried.
On the 5th, a fire was started in town as a result of lightning striking some telephone wires. Telegraph communication was maintained by substitute lines.
Maritime / Coastal
Fierce seas were raging outside the port from the 3rd until the 5th. Tremendous waves swept the breakwater at high tide and smashed in the end of the watersiders shed and did considerable damage.
Lightning
at
Waitara
Waitara was completely cut off.
Manawatu-Wanganui
Flooding
at
Matiere
Matiere suffered extensively and 2 ft (0.61 m) of water entered some of the houses.
Flooding
at
Ongarue River
Ongarue River was in high flood.
Flooding
at
Otangiwai
Three bridges were washed away at Otangiwai.
Flooding
at
Putiki
A body of an elderly man was found floating down the Whanganui River on the 5th.
Flooding
at
Taringamotu
Taringamotu Bridge and the stock bridge in Taringamotu Valley was washed away.
Flooding
at
Taumarunui
The damage to roads and bridges in the Taumarunui district cost £2100 ($178,740 2009 dollars).
Heavy Rain
at
Whanganui River
Abnormal rainfall in the back country caused the river to flood on the 3rd.
Flooding
The river rose 14 ft (4.27 m) above the Pipikiri Wharf and was still rising on the 3rd.
The river was bringing down huge quantities of pumice, timber and driftwood.
There were three dead cattle and two pigs washed up on the Taylorville bank.
Maritime / Coastal
The seas were very rough and shipping was having a hard time.
Wellington
Maritime / Coastal
at
Wellington
The storm on the 5th delayed the Shaw, Saville and Albion liner Tonic. She was due at Wellington on the 6th with over 500 passengers from England.
Tasman-Nelson
High Wind / Gust
at
Nelson
A storm hit Nelson at 10:00pm on the 3rd and caused considerable destruction to property.
Fences were torn down, outhouses were destroyed and homes were damaged.
There was no loss of life.
The storm came from the sea and its track was from the north-weatern corner of Wainui Street in a south-easterly direction to Hardy Street.
On Elliot Street, a slab of timber from a stack was blown 30-40 yards (27-37 m) through a bedroom window. A man received only a slight cut to his face.
On Elliot Street, a chicken house was carried 40 yards (37 m) away.
A glasshouse valued at £300 ($25,530 2009 dollars) was destroyed.
A shed in Milton Grove had the iron torn off, the walls burst in and the door wretched from its hinges. At the same location, a chicken house was found upside down and 50 ft away from its original position.
Te Rangi Private Hospital, in Collingwood Street, had the tiles of the roof tron off, and heavy rain caused water damage to the building.
West Coast
Flooding
at
Greymouth
Flood waters in the Grey River carried away a pier and two spans of the Blackball end of the Blackball-Ngahere Bridge.
Traffic was not resumed for three weeks.
References
- Cowie, C.A; Attwood, A.K.(1957) FLOODS in NEW ZEALAND 1920 -53, The Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand 239p.
- Headline: Damage to roads, A slip at Mahoenui.
- The New Zealand Herald, 5 May 1926.
- Headline: Flood damages bridge, serious gap in railway.
- The New Zealand Herald, 5 May 1926.
- Headline: Gail in Taranaki, Heavy seas on coast.
- The New Zealand Herald, 5 May 1926.
- Headline: Hamilton and Kawhia, rough weather reported.
- The New Zealand Herald, 5 May 1926.
- Headline: Report from Taumarunui, the rivers subsiding.
- The New Zealand Herald, 5 May 1926.
- Headline: Storm in Auckland, biosterous conditions.
- The New Zealand Herald, 5 May 1926.
- Headline: Tempestuous Weather, Damage Done in Nelson.
- The New Zealand Herald, 5 May 1926.
- Headline: The Wanganui in flood, Heavy rains inland.
- The New Zealand Herald, 5 May 1926.
- Headline: Boisterous weather, conditions in the city.
- The New Zealand Herald, 6 May 1926.
- Headline: Damage by lightning, position in Taranaki
- The New Zealand Herald, 6 May 1926.
- Headline: Report from country, the rising of rivers.
- The New Zealand Herald, 6 May 1926.
- Headline: The Wanganui in flood, Maoris discover body.
- The New Zealand Herald, 6 May 1926.