NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
May 1958 Western New Zealand Storm ( 1958-05-27 )
A storm brought high winds and flooding to parts of western New Zealand, particularly the West Coast, where buildings were damaged and lifelines cut.
New Zealand
Multi Hazard
at
New Zealand
Duration: 2 days - From the 27th to the 28th of May.
Northland
High Wind / Gust
at
Dargaville
Dargaville recorded a wind gust of 61 knots (113 km/hr) on the 27th, at 320 degrees true.
Taranaki
Tornado
at
Hawera
A tornado hit Hawera at 7 p.m. on the 28th.
It unroofed buildings, levelled trees and scattered hay on a dozen farms.
It followed a narrow path from west to south across Rama Rd to Aurora Rd.
Two chimneys of an old house fell onto the roof and smashed the rafters over the washhouse.
All windows were blown out of a cowshed.
A macrocarpa was pulled out at the roots.
1200 bales of hay stacked in the open was scattered all over the place.
Cowshed roofs were torn off on several farms.
A garage collapsed on to a car and truck.
Concrete power poles were pushed over.
Flooding
at
Mimi River
Heavy overnight rain in its upper catchment caused a flash flood in the Mimi Stream on the 27th.
The Mimi River had a very high flood on the 27th, but no particulars are available.
Flooding
at
Uruti
Flooding in the Uruti area was reported to be the severest for over 10 years.
Flood waters swept over hundredss of acres of farmland.
The water swept over small bridges and across the north highway in several places.
The flood waters were well above fence-top level in the lower area.
Some sheep were lost.
By mid-morning the flood level had dropped to an estimated 6 ft (1.8 m), but large areas were still heavily inundated.
West Coast
Multi Hazard
at
West Coast
A storm with winds of cyclonic force struck the West Coast on the 28th.
The Midland Railway line was cut by washouts and slips.
High Wind / Gust
Strong winds cut power and telephone lines.
Over a wide area, many houses lost their roofs.
Flooding
at
Arahura River
A tornado swept across farmlands in the Arahura Valley on the 28th.
The tornado passed over the river, sucking up water to a height of about 50 ft (15 m).
Eight big trees were ripped from the ground and 35 macrocarpas were uprooted.
Hay and a super shed were lifted bodily.
High Wind / Gust
at
Houhou
A freak gust of wind ripped the roof off a four-car garage.
Lightning
A severe electrical storm struck the Hydro-electric sub-station and blew out the transformed bank, affecting the supply to the Arahura and Kaniere dredges.
High Wind / Gust
at
Otira
Otira was lashed by powerful winds.
Power lines were torn down and damaged, cutting power to the Otira district. High-tension wires were broken.
Telephone communications were cut.
Buildings were damaged by the winds. Several garages were blown over and sheets of iron were ripped from houses and sheds. A two-storied hotel unit was hit by a blast of wind, which wrecked the upstairs verandah.
Multi Hazard
The railway line was blocked in two places, causing the suspension of railway services between Greymouth and Christchurch.
A train was trapped in the long Otira tunnel when the power failed.
The Otira Gorge road was closed.
Otira was completely isolated.
High Wind / Gust
at
Ngahere
Buildings were damaged at Ngahere. Half of the roof of the New Forest Sawmilling Company's mill collapsed in a gust of wind.
Landslide
at
Reefton Saddle
At Reefton Saddle, a slip blocked the entrance to the Tawhai Rail Tunnel.
High Wind / Gust
at
Waimangaroa
At Waimangaroa, houses and other buildings were de-roofed. One home was completely unroofed and its verandah was wrecked, and two other homes lost part of their roofs. The new exchange also lost its roof.
References
- Ben, J.L. (1990). A chronology of flooding on the West Coast, South Island, New Zealand 1846-1990.
- New Zealand Meteorological Service, Technicial Information Circular No.191, Extreme Wind Gusts.
- Owen, R.E. (1960). Hydrology Annual, No.6, 1958. Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand.
- Headline: Storm again batters Otira: Railway out.
- The Greymouth Evening Star, 28 May 1958.
- Headline: Gales cause most damage in coast storm.
- The Greymouth Evening Star, 29 May 1958.
- Headline: Widely spread storm damage on coast.
- The Greymouth Evening Star, 29 May 1958.
- Headline: Tornado Hits Farming Area Near Hawera.
- The Greymouth Evening Star, 30 May 1958.
May 1958 Western New Zealand Storm ( 1958-05-27 )
A storm brought high winds and flooding to parts of western New Zealand, particularly the West Coast, where buildings were damaged and lifelines cut.
New Zealand
Multi Hazard
at
New Zealand
Duration: 2 days - From the 27th to the 28th of May.
Northland
High Wind / Gust
at
Dargaville
Dargaville recorded a wind gust of 61 knots (113 km/hr) on the 27th, at 320 degrees true.
Taranaki
Tornado
at
Hawera
A tornado hit Hawera at 7 p.m. on the 28th.
It unroofed buildings, levelled trees and scattered hay on a dozen farms.
It followed a narrow path from west to south across Rama Rd to Aurora Rd.
Two chimneys of an old house fell onto the roof and smashed the rafters over the washhouse.
All windows were blown out of a cowshed.
A macrocarpa was pulled out at the roots.
1200 bales of hay stacked in the open was scattered all over the place.
Cowshed roofs were torn off on several farms.
A garage collapsed on to a car and truck.
Concrete power poles were pushed over.
Flooding
at
Mimi River
Heavy overnight rain in its upper catchment caused a flash flood in the Mimi Stream on the 27th.
The Mimi River had a very high flood on the 27th, but no particulars are available.
Flooding
at
Uruti
Flooding in the Uruti area was reported to be the severest for over 10 years.
Flood waters swept over hundredss of acres of farmland.
The water swept over small bridges and across the north highway in several places.
The flood waters were well above fence-top level in the lower area.
Some sheep were lost.
By mid-morning the flood level had dropped to an estimated 6 ft (1.8 m), but large areas were still heavily inundated.
West Coast
Multi Hazard
at
West Coast
A storm with winds of cyclonic force struck the West Coast on the 28th.
The Midland Railway line was cut by washouts and slips.
High Wind / Gust
Strong winds cut power and telephone lines.
Over a wide area, many houses lost their roofs.
Flooding
at
Arahura River
A tornado swept across farmlands in the Arahura Valley on the 28th.
The tornado passed over the river, sucking up water to a height of about 50 ft (15 m).
Eight big trees were ripped from the ground and 35 macrocarpas were uprooted.
Hay and a super shed were lifted bodily.
High Wind / Gust
at
Houhou
A freak gust of wind ripped the roof off a four-car garage.
Lightning
A severe electrical storm struck the Hydro-electric sub-station and blew out the transformed bank, affecting the supply to the Arahura and Kaniere dredges.
High Wind / Gust
at
Otira
Otira was lashed by powerful winds.
Power lines were torn down and damaged, cutting power to the Otira district. High-tension wires were broken.
Telephone communications were cut.
Buildings were damaged by the winds. Several garages were blown over and sheets of iron were ripped from houses and sheds. A two-storied hotel unit was hit by a blast of wind, which wrecked the upstairs verandah.
Multi Hazard
The railway line was blocked in two places, causing the suspension of railway services between Greymouth and Christchurch.
A train was trapped in the long Otira tunnel when the power failed.
The Otira Gorge road was closed.
Otira was completely isolated.
High Wind / Gust
at
Ngahere
Buildings were damaged at Ngahere. Half of the roof of the New Forest Sawmilling Company's mill collapsed in a gust of wind.
Landslide
at
Reefton Saddle
At Reefton Saddle, a slip blocked the entrance to the Tawhai Rail Tunnel.
High Wind / Gust
at
Waimangaroa
At Waimangaroa, houses and other buildings were de-roofed. One home was completely unroofed and its verandah was wrecked, and two other homes lost part of their roofs. The new exchange also lost its roof.
References
- Ben, J.L. (1990). A chronology of flooding on the West Coast, South Island, New Zealand 1846-1990.
- New Zealand Meteorological Service, Technicial Information Circular No.191, Extreme Wind Gusts.
- Owen, R.E. (1960). Hydrology Annual, No.6, 1958. Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand.
- Headline: Storm again batters Otira: Railway out.
- The Greymouth Evening Star, 28 May 1958.
- Headline: Gales cause most damage in coast storm.
- The Greymouth Evening Star, 29 May 1958.
- Headline: Widely spread storm damage on coast.
- The Greymouth Evening Star, 29 May 1958.
- Headline: Tornado Hits Farming Area Near Hawera.
- The Greymouth Evening Star, 30 May 1958.