NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
May 1988 West Coast Flooding
(
1988-05-19
)
20-30 years
Heavy rain brought flooding to the West Coast, particularly the Greymouth area. A Civil Defenece Emergency was declared for the Greymouth Borough, and roads and properties suffered damage.
West Coast
Multi Hazard
at
West Coast
Duration: 2 days - From the 19th to the 20th of May.
Towards the end of the period, north-westerly rain was produced by a low moving south-eastwards in the Tasman Sea. A front crossed the area at about noon on the 19th, but with a low remaining in the central Tasman Sea, the flow remained north-westerly, and rain continued, before easing around midnight.
Flooding
An estimated 1000 telephone lines in the Grey district were cut by flooding from the 19th.
Both the Grey and Inangahua Rivers had record floods.
Extensive damage was done in the Grey Valley.
At Dobson, Grey River peaked at 12.15am on the 20th and was 5.4m above normal with a discharge of 5180 cumecs
The river was flowing at 7 m/s (25.2km/hr) against rough seas and high tide
These were the highest combination of recordings to be made to that time
1800 sheep, 163 cattle and 35 pigs were lost.
Insurance Industry Payouts for the Greymouth Floods totalled $3,200,000 ($5,400,000 2008 dollars).
Heavy Rain
at
Greymouth
Greymouth Harbour recorded 251 mm (25.1 cm) of rain in 13 days.
Flooding
Flooding in Greymouth followed 12 days of solid rain. Most of Greymouth was flooded.
A Civil Defence Emergency was declared for the Greymouth Borough on the 20th and was terminated on the 23rd.
400 people were evacuated from 102 houses in Greymouth Borough.
The water was over 1 m deep in places.
The flood left sodden carpets and goods from shops.
Silt was deposited on streets.
102 homes were affected by flooding. The houses of two women were condemned.
The flooding devastated low-lying Blaketown and lower Greymouth
Asphalt was ripped from the streets
Railway lines along Mawhera Quay were destroyed
Damage to drainage systems was estimated at $75,000 ($127,000 2008 dollars).
Damage to roading was estimated at $500,000 ($845,000 2008 dollars).
Heavy Rain
at
Hokitika
Hokitika Aerodrome recorded 221 mm (22.1 cm) of rain in 13 days.
Flooding
at
Inangahua Landing
The Inangahua River at the Landing reached a peak level of 6.735 m on the 20th (Return Period approximately 30 years, or a 3% Annual Exceedance Probability).
Flooding
at
Lyell
The Buller River at Woolfs reached a peak level of 8.409 m on the 20th (Return Period approximately 30 years, or a 3% Annual Exceedance Probability).
Heavy Rain
at
Sirdar Creek
Paparoa recorded daily totals for seven days prior to the event of: 5 mm, 194 mm, 16 mm, 67 mm, 5 mm, 68 mm, and 102 mm.
Paparoa recorded a maximum intensity of 15 mm (1.5 cm) - the highest one hour rainfall intensity recorded in the 48 hours prior to event peak.
Flooding
at
Te Kuha
The Buller River at Te Kuha reached a peak level of 11.722 m on the 20th (Return Period approximately 20 years).
Heavy Rain
at
Westport
Westport Aerodrome recorded 272 mm (27.2 cm) of rain in 13 days.
References
- Benn, J.L. (n.d.) Major Flood Events in Greymouth, New Zealand: 1862-1988. West Coast Regional Council
- Headline: Civil Defence Declarations since 1 January 1963.
- Declared Civil Defence Emergencies.
- Headline: Civil emergency still on in Greymouth.
- The Greymouth Evening Star, 21 May 1988.
- Headline: Still at loggerheads over flooding blame.
- The Greymouth Evening Star, 23 May 1988.
- Headline: A relief fund launched as emergency enters its fourth day.
- The Greymouth Evening Star, 23 May 1988.
- Insurance Councils. The Cost of Weather Loses, Claims History (Updated 2004).
- New Zealand Meteorological Service. (2008). Meteorology of Extreme Rainfalls in New Zealand (Mark Pascoe, Ed.).
May 1988 West Coast Flooding
(
1988-05-19
)
20-30 years
Heavy rain brought flooding to the West Coast, particularly the Greymouth area. A Civil Defenece Emergency was declared for the Greymouth Borough, and roads and properties suffered damage.
West Coast
Multi Hazard
at
West Coast
Duration: 2 days - From the 19th to the 20th of May.
Towards the end of the period, north-westerly rain was produced by a low moving south-eastwards in the Tasman Sea. A front crossed the area at about noon on the 19th, but with a low remaining in the central Tasman Sea, the flow remained north-westerly, and rain continued, before easing around midnight.
Flooding
An estimated 1000 telephone lines in the Grey district were cut by flooding from the 19th.
Both the Grey and Inangahua Rivers had record floods.
Extensive damage was done in the Grey Valley.
At Dobson, Grey River peaked at 12.15am on the 20th and was 5.4m above normal with a discharge of 5180 cumecs
The river was flowing at 7 m/s (25.2km/hr) against rough seas and high tide
These were the highest combination of recordings to be made to that time
1800 sheep, 163 cattle and 35 pigs were lost.
Insurance Industry Payouts for the Greymouth Floods totalled $3,200,000 ($5,400,000 2008 dollars).
Heavy Rain
at
Greymouth
Greymouth Harbour recorded 251 mm (25.1 cm) of rain in 13 days.
Flooding
Flooding in Greymouth followed 12 days of solid rain. Most of Greymouth was flooded.
A Civil Defence Emergency was declared for the Greymouth Borough on the 20th and was terminated on the 23rd.
400 people were evacuated from 102 houses in Greymouth Borough.
The water was over 1 m deep in places.
The flood left sodden carpets and goods from shops.
Silt was deposited on streets.
102 homes were affected by flooding. The houses of two women were condemned.
The flooding devastated low-lying Blaketown and lower Greymouth
Asphalt was ripped from the streets
Railway lines along Mawhera Quay were destroyed
Damage to drainage systems was estimated at $75,000 ($127,000 2008 dollars).
Damage to roading was estimated at $500,000 ($845,000 2008 dollars).
Heavy Rain
at
Hokitika
Hokitika Aerodrome recorded 221 mm (22.1 cm) of rain in 13 days.
Flooding
at
Inangahua Landing
The Inangahua River at the Landing reached a peak level of 6.735 m on the 20th (Return Period approximately 30 years, or a 3% Annual Exceedance Probability).
Flooding
at
Lyell
The Buller River at Woolfs reached a peak level of 8.409 m on the 20th (Return Period approximately 30 years, or a 3% Annual Exceedance Probability).
Heavy Rain
at
Sirdar Creek
Paparoa recorded daily totals for seven days prior to the event of: 5 mm, 194 mm, 16 mm, 67 mm, 5 mm, 68 mm, and 102 mm.
Paparoa recorded a maximum intensity of 15 mm (1.5 cm) - the highest one hour rainfall intensity recorded in the 48 hours prior to event peak.
Flooding
at
Te Kuha
The Buller River at Te Kuha reached a peak level of 11.722 m on the 20th (Return Period approximately 20 years).
Heavy Rain
at
Westport
Westport Aerodrome recorded 272 mm (27.2 cm) of rain in 13 days.
References
- Benn, J.L. (n.d.) Major Flood Events in Greymouth, New Zealand: 1862-1988. West Coast Regional Council
- Headline: Civil Defence Declarations since 1 January 1963.
- Declared Civil Defence Emergencies.
- Headline: Civil emergency still on in Greymouth.
- The Greymouth Evening Star, 21 May 1988.
- Headline: Still at loggerheads over flooding blame.
- The Greymouth Evening Star, 23 May 1988.
- Headline: A relief fund launched as emergency enters its fourth day.
- The Greymouth Evening Star, 23 May 1988.
- Insurance Councils. The Cost of Weather Loses, Claims History (Updated 2004).
- New Zealand Meteorological Service. (2008). Meteorology of Extreme Rainfalls in New Zealand (Mark Pascoe, Ed.).