NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
May 1972 New Zealand Storm ( 1972-05-15 )
Strong winds and torrential rain hit much of New Zealand. Gale force north-easterly winds backed up the highest tide to produce heavy flooding in Auckland waterfront suburbs. Damage was caused by gale force winds.
New Zealand
Multi Hazard
at
New Zealand
Duration: 2 days - Strong winds and torrential rain hit much of New Zealand on the 15th and 16th as a deep depression swept in from the Tasman Sea.
Damage was reported in many parts of the country, from Auckland to Greymouth.
The conditions were caused by a complex depression which covered the east Tasman Sea and New Zealand.
Northland
High Wind / Gust
at
Cape Reinga
The Auckland Weather Office reported gusts of up to 80 miles an hour (128.7 km/hr) at Cape Reinga and winds over gale force along the East Coast
Auckland
Heavy Rain
at
Auckland City
Torrential rain left the large excavation site for the civic underground car park full of water.
Maritime / Coastal
Gale force north-easterly winds backed up the highest tide to produce heavy flooding in Auckland waterfront suburbs on the 15th.
Along Tamaki Drive, water was three to four feet (0.91-1.22 m) deep across the road at high tide.
The North-western Motorway and parts of the Southern Motorway were flooded. Water extended from Pt Chevalier to Patiki Road.
A group of shops in Patteson Ave, Mission Bay bore the brunt of the flooding.
High Wind / Gust
Large areas of the North Shore had their power cut off when power lines touched in the high winds. Transformers blew out at Manurewa, Howick , Beachlands and Titirangi and caused a major power cut for several hours on the 15th.
Flooding
There was sewage and flood water up to three feet (0.91 m) deep, in the John Davis Road and Rosamund Ave areas of Mt Roskill, after the main sewer burst.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Herald Island
One of the hardest hit areas was Herald Island when the tide swept 60 to 70 feet (18-21 m) over the beachfront road.
The island custodian said it was the biggest and deepest flood the island had ever had.
Waikato
Heavy Rain
at
Hamilton
Hamilton recorded 37 mm (3.7 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 15th.
High Wind / Gust
Winds gusted to 50 knots (92.6 km/hr).
Flooding
There was four feet (1.22 m) of water covering the road near Hamilton on the way from Raglan.
High Wind / Gust
at
Mangakino
Mangakino was isolated when telephone communications were cut in the night.
Heavy Rain
at
Te Aroha
Te Aroha recorded 71 mm (7.1 cm) of rain overnight of the 15th.
High Wind / Gust
There were high winds in Te Aroha.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Whitianga
The storm caused considerable damage, especially to boats moored in the harbour. A large motor-powered catamaran was blown ashore and pounded by waves against the rocks. A 13-foot in-board motored dinghy was smashed against the Buffalo Beach rocks. At least three other dinghies were carried off by the wind and high tide, but were recovered intact.
No damage to houses was reported, except for slight damage to the roof of a building at Wharekaho.
The only road blocked was the M.H.309 between Whitianga and Coromandel which was still impassable three days later.
Bay of Plenty
High Wind / Gust
at
Maketu
Wind speeds were estimated to have been well in excess of 80 miles per hour (128.7 km/hr).
The brief gust left a trail of devastation through the town smashing trees, damaging roofs, blowing out windows and demolishing at least one building.
West Coast
High Wind / Gust
at
Greymouth
Three light aircraft on the Greymouth airport, where flying club headquarters collapsed, were damaged.
References
- Headline: Boats Suffer Damage In Storm.
- Coromandel and Mercury Bay Gazette, 24 May (Wednesday) 1972.
- Headline: Gales, High Tides Wreak Havoc.
- The New Zealand Herald, 16 May (Tuesday) 1972.
- Headline: Weather.
- The New Zealand Herald, 16 May (Tuesday) 1972.
- Headline: Damage in many parts.
- Waikato Times, 16 May (Tuesday) 1972.
- Headline: Waikato Shivers As Winter Hits.
- Waikato Times, 16 May (Tuesday) 1972.
May 1972 New Zealand Storm ( 1972-05-15 )
Strong winds and torrential rain hit much of New Zealand. Gale force north-easterly winds backed up the highest tide to produce heavy flooding in Auckland waterfront suburbs. Damage was caused by gale force winds.
New Zealand
Multi Hazard
at
New Zealand
Duration: 2 days - Strong winds and torrential rain hit much of New Zealand on the 15th and 16th as a deep depression swept in from the Tasman Sea.
Damage was reported in many parts of the country, from Auckland to Greymouth.
The conditions were caused by a complex depression which covered the east Tasman Sea and New Zealand.
Northland
High Wind / Gust
at
Cape Reinga
The Auckland Weather Office reported gusts of up to 80 miles an hour (128.7 km/hr) at Cape Reinga and winds over gale force along the East Coast
Auckland
Heavy Rain
at
Auckland City
Torrential rain left the large excavation site for the civic underground car park full of water.
Maritime / Coastal
Gale force north-easterly winds backed up the highest tide to produce heavy flooding in Auckland waterfront suburbs on the 15th.
Along Tamaki Drive, water was three to four feet (0.91-1.22 m) deep across the road at high tide.
The North-western Motorway and parts of the Southern Motorway were flooded. Water extended from Pt Chevalier to Patiki Road.
A group of shops in Patteson Ave, Mission Bay bore the brunt of the flooding.
High Wind / Gust
Large areas of the North Shore had their power cut off when power lines touched in the high winds. Transformers blew out at Manurewa, Howick , Beachlands and Titirangi and caused a major power cut for several hours on the 15th.
Flooding
There was sewage and flood water up to three feet (0.91 m) deep, in the John Davis Road and Rosamund Ave areas of Mt Roskill, after the main sewer burst.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Herald Island
One of the hardest hit areas was Herald Island when the tide swept 60 to 70 feet (18-21 m) over the beachfront road.
The island custodian said it was the biggest and deepest flood the island had ever had.
Waikato
Heavy Rain
at
Hamilton
Hamilton recorded 37 mm (3.7 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 15th.
High Wind / Gust
Winds gusted to 50 knots (92.6 km/hr).
Flooding
There was four feet (1.22 m) of water covering the road near Hamilton on the way from Raglan.
High Wind / Gust
at
Mangakino
Mangakino was isolated when telephone communications were cut in the night.
Heavy Rain
at
Te Aroha
Te Aroha recorded 71 mm (7.1 cm) of rain overnight of the 15th.
High Wind / Gust
There were high winds in Te Aroha.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Whitianga
The storm caused considerable damage, especially to boats moored in the harbour. A large motor-powered catamaran was blown ashore and pounded by waves against the rocks. A 13-foot in-board motored dinghy was smashed against the Buffalo Beach rocks. At least three other dinghies were carried off by the wind and high tide, but were recovered intact.
No damage to houses was reported, except for slight damage to the roof of a building at Wharekaho.
The only road blocked was the M.H.309 between Whitianga and Coromandel which was still impassable three days later.
Bay of Plenty
High Wind / Gust
at
Maketu
Wind speeds were estimated to have been well in excess of 80 miles per hour (128.7 km/hr).
The brief gust left a trail of devastation through the town smashing trees, damaging roofs, blowing out windows and demolishing at least one building.
West Coast
High Wind / Gust
at
Greymouth
Three light aircraft on the Greymouth airport, where flying club headquarters collapsed, were damaged.
References
- Headline: Boats Suffer Damage In Storm.
- Coromandel and Mercury Bay Gazette, 24 May (Wednesday) 1972.
- Headline: Gales, High Tides Wreak Havoc.
- The New Zealand Herald, 16 May (Tuesday) 1972.
- Headline: Weather.
- The New Zealand Herald, 16 May (Tuesday) 1972.
- Headline: Damage in many parts.
- Waikato Times, 16 May (Tuesday) 1972.
- Headline: Waikato Shivers As Winter Hits.
- Waikato Times, 16 May (Tuesday) 1972.