NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
May 1957 Bay of Plenty Flooding ( 1957-05-05 )
There was extensive damage in Opotiki after the Otara River flooded.
Bay of Plenty
Flooding
at
Bay of Plenty
Duration: 2 days - There was flooding in the Bay of Plenty on the 5th and 6th May 1957.
Heavy Rain
at
Opotiki
There was heavy rainfall throughout Opotiki County.
The heaviest rain falls were centred over the Opotiki township and towards the headwaters of the Otara tributaries (Te Waiti and Pakihi Stream).
The official Opotiki rain gauge was drowned.
A rain gauge in the borough recorded 6.2 in (15.75 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Flooding
Devastating flood occurred in Otara River, which flows along borough boundary.
Otara River rose within 6.3 ft (1.9 m) of the deck of the main highway bridge at Opotiki.
Stopbanks protecting Opotiki were overtopped and damaged.
The business section of the town was inundated to depth of 4 ft (1.22 m) and residential areas to lesser degree.
The damage to Borough streets and services totalled £12,350 ($540,000 2010 dollars).
The damage to private property totalled £50,000 ($2,190,000 2010 dollars).
A farmer lost 200 sheep.
In the rural areas there was very pronounced erosion, paddocks silted up and were covered with debris. Watercourses and drains were blocked and fences were ruined.
References
- Hydrology Annual No.5 1957, Soil Conservation and River Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand
May 1957 Bay of Plenty Flooding ( 1957-05-05 )
There was extensive damage in Opotiki after the Otara River flooded.
Bay of Plenty
Flooding
at
Bay of Plenty
Duration: 2 days - There was flooding in the Bay of Plenty on the 5th and 6th May 1957.
Heavy Rain
at
Opotiki
There was heavy rainfall throughout Opotiki County.
The heaviest rain falls were centred over the Opotiki township and towards the headwaters of the Otara tributaries (Te Waiti and Pakihi Stream).
The official Opotiki rain gauge was drowned.
A rain gauge in the borough recorded 6.2 in (15.75 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Flooding
Devastating flood occurred in Otara River, which flows along borough boundary.
Otara River rose within 6.3 ft (1.9 m) of the deck of the main highway bridge at Opotiki.
Stopbanks protecting Opotiki were overtopped and damaged.
The business section of the town was inundated to depth of 4 ft (1.22 m) and residential areas to lesser degree.
The damage to Borough streets and services totalled £12,350 ($540,000 2010 dollars).
The damage to private property totalled £50,000 ($2,190,000 2010 dollars).
A farmer lost 200 sheep.
In the rural areas there was very pronounced erosion, paddocks silted up and were covered with debris. Watercourses and drains were blocked and fences were ruined.
References
- Hydrology Annual No.5 1957, Soil Conservation and River Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand