NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
May 2015 Wellington Flooding ( 2015-05-14 )
Very heavy rain from a strong moist northwest flow caused rivers and streams to rise rapidly, and resulted in surface flooding and slips on the Kapiti Coast and Wellington.
Wellington
Multi Hazard
at
Wellington
Insurance claims for the storm total $16.8 million.
Between 5am and 3pm on 14 May, the Fire Service received 423 emergency calls from the Wellington region, and attended 320 callouts for storm damage, flooding or requests for assistance.
Eighteen Kapiti Coast homes were evacuated, mainly in Raumati where the Wharemauku stream has breached its banks.
The Wellington Free Ambulance used four-wheel drives to get paramedics to people stranded by the floodwaters in Kapiti.
Many schools on the Kapiti Coast, Lower Hutt, Tawa, Porirua, Whitby and Wellington City were closed due to road conditions, flooding or damage.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 8:57 pm 13-May-2015. HEAVY RAIN IS EXPECTED ABOUT THE TARARUA RANGE, TARANAKI AND EASTERN BAY OF PLENTY ON THURSDAY
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 6:09 am 14-May-2015. HEAVY RAIN ABOUT THE TARARUA RANGE, INCLUDING KAPITI COAST AND HOROWHENUA, TARANAKI AND EASTERN BAY OF PLENTY ON THURSDAY
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 12:16 pm 14-May-2015. HEAVY RAIN ABOUT THE KAPITI COAST AND WELLINGTON, INCLUDING THE TARARUA RANGE, ALSO TARANAKI AND EASTERN BAY OF PLENTY TODAY(THURSDAY)
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 9:13 am 15-May-2015. BURST OF HEAVY RAIN FOR THE TARARUA DISTRICT AND HAWKES BAY SOUTH OF WAIPUKURAU TODAY (FRIDAY).
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 8:17 pm 15-May-2015. HEAVY RAIN ABOUT THE TARARUA DISTRICT AND HAWKES BAY SOUTH OF WAIPUKURAU, EASING TONIGHT (FRIDAY).
Multi Hazard
at
Paraparaumu
Paraparaumu recorded 152 mm (15.2 cm) of rain on 14 May.
The Paraparaumu Airport was closed due to flooding.
An evacuation centre had been set up at Paraparaumu's Community Centre, and the police knocked on doors in the worst-hit areas to assess the damage.
Landslide
at
Paekakariki
SH1 between Paekakariki and Pukerua Bay was blocked by a 40 cubic metre slip at 7am on 14 May, forcing motorists on either side to turn back; the northbound lane opened intermittently from late morning. The alternative route to Wellington, the Paekakariki Hill road, was also closed because of debris on the road.
Flooding
at
Petone
An 80-year-old man drowned in floodwaters near Sladden Park, in Petone.
Businesses in Cornish St in Petone suffered extensive damage after a nearby creek breached its banks. The floodwaters entered business premises and also swept cars away.
Flooding
at
Wellington City
All Wellington commuter train services were cancelled from 1.30pm on 14 May, and motorway traffic reduced to a crawl, so that many in the Capital found themselves stranded and seeking
alternative accommodation. The Wellington City Library made its mezzanine floor available for those with nowhere else to go.
References
- Headline: Kapiti Coast wakes up to a deluge.
- Radio New Zealand News, 14 May 2015.
- Headline: Torrential rain not over for Wellington.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 15 May 2015.
- Headline: Police swam to car of man drowned in Wellington flooding.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 15 May 2015.
- Headline: Wellington businesses clean up after floods.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 15 May 2015.
- Insurance Council of New Zealand (www.icnz.org.nz/current/weather)
May 2015 Wellington Flooding ( 2015-05-14 )
Very heavy rain from a strong moist northwest flow caused rivers and streams to rise rapidly, and resulted in surface flooding and slips on the Kapiti Coast and Wellington.
Wellington
Multi Hazard
at
Wellington
Insurance claims for the storm total $16.8 million.
Between 5am and 3pm on 14 May, the Fire Service received 423 emergency calls from the Wellington region, and attended 320 callouts for storm damage, flooding or requests for assistance.
Eighteen Kapiti Coast homes were evacuated, mainly in Raumati where the Wharemauku stream has breached its banks.
The Wellington Free Ambulance used four-wheel drives to get paramedics to people stranded by the floodwaters in Kapiti.
Many schools on the Kapiti Coast, Lower Hutt, Tawa, Porirua, Whitby and Wellington City were closed due to road conditions, flooding or damage.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 8:57 pm 13-May-2015. HEAVY RAIN IS EXPECTED ABOUT THE TARARUA RANGE, TARANAKI AND EASTERN BAY OF PLENTY ON THURSDAY
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 6:09 am 14-May-2015. HEAVY RAIN ABOUT THE TARARUA RANGE, INCLUDING KAPITI COAST AND HOROWHENUA, TARANAKI AND EASTERN BAY OF PLENTY ON THURSDAY
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 12:16 pm 14-May-2015. HEAVY RAIN ABOUT THE KAPITI COAST AND WELLINGTON, INCLUDING THE TARARUA RANGE, ALSO TARANAKI AND EASTERN BAY OF PLENTY TODAY(THURSDAY)
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 9:13 am 15-May-2015. BURST OF HEAVY RAIN FOR THE TARARUA DISTRICT AND HAWKES BAY SOUTH OF WAIPUKURAU TODAY (FRIDAY).
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING 8:17 pm 15-May-2015. HEAVY RAIN ABOUT THE TARARUA DISTRICT AND HAWKES BAY SOUTH OF WAIPUKURAU, EASING TONIGHT (FRIDAY).
Multi Hazard
at
Paraparaumu
Paraparaumu recorded 152 mm (15.2 cm) of rain on 14 May.
The Paraparaumu Airport was closed due to flooding.
An evacuation centre had been set up at Paraparaumu's Community Centre, and the police knocked on doors in the worst-hit areas to assess the damage.
Landslide
at
Paekakariki
SH1 between Paekakariki and Pukerua Bay was blocked by a 40 cubic metre slip at 7am on 14 May, forcing motorists on either side to turn back; the northbound lane opened intermittently from late morning. The alternative route to Wellington, the Paekakariki Hill road, was also closed because of debris on the road.
Flooding
at
Petone
An 80-year-old man drowned in floodwaters near Sladden Park, in Petone.
Businesses in Cornish St in Petone suffered extensive damage after a nearby creek breached its banks. The floodwaters entered business premises and also swept cars away.
Flooding
at
Wellington City
All Wellington commuter train services were cancelled from 1.30pm on 14 May, and motorway traffic reduced to a crawl, so that many in the Capital found themselves stranded and seeking
alternative accommodation. The Wellington City Library made its mezzanine floor available for those with nowhere else to go.
References
- Headline: Kapiti Coast wakes up to a deluge.
- Radio New Zealand News, 14 May 2015.
- Headline: Torrential rain not over for Wellington.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 15 May 2015.
- Headline: Police swam to car of man drowned in Wellington flooding.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 15 May 2015.
- Headline: Wellington businesses clean up after floods.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 15 May 2015.
- Insurance Council of New Zealand (www.icnz.org.nz/current/weather)