NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
November 1952 New Zealand Storm ( 1952-11-25 )
Many parts of New Zealand experienced high winds, heavy rain, flooding, high seas and hail, causing damage and disruption. One person drowned in Marlborough.
New Zealand
Multi Hazard
at
New Zealand
Duration: 3 days - From the 25th to the 27th of November.
There were faults on three of the six toll lines from Nelson to Wellington.
North Island
Flooding
at
North Island
The main road between Taihape and Napier-Hastings was scoured.
South Island
Multi Hazard
at
South Island
The East Coast route from Marlborough to Christchurch was closed.
The toll line from Nelson to Christchurch was rendered unserviceable by trouble somewhere in the Kaikoura region.
Auckland
Multi Hazard
at
Auckland
On the 26th Auckland experienced its worst spring storm for years.
Hail
Hail fell in the suburbs. Heavy hail fell in several suburbs (Remuera, Grey Lynn and Mt Albert), and parts of the North Shore received a heavy battering.
The hail stones were up to the size of marbles.
Lightning
at
Auckland City
Thunder shook the city.
Hail
at
Drury
There was a 30-minute hail storm near Drury.
Hail
at
Milford
Road traffic was stopped between Milford and Campbells Bay due to hail 6 in (15 cm) thick.
Tornado
at
Motuihe Island
The largest of the waterspouts formed near Motuihi Island at about 4pm. The column reached 3000 ft (914 m) in height.
Tornado
at
Waitemata Harbour
Waterspouts formed in the outer Waitemata Harbour.
Waikato
Hail
at
Te Kuiti
Te Kuiti experienced a hail storm shorlty before 3pm on the 26th.
The storm lasted for 20 minutes.
The hail caused crop damage. Orchards in the path of the storm were ruined.
It was the heaviest hail storm on record.
Some hail stones were the size of marbles.
Hail lay in a carpet 5-6 in (12.7-15.2 cm) thick.
The storm swept across the residential and shopping area.
Flooding
Many shops were flooded and were forced to close.
Heavy damage was done to shops, residences and gardens. Two drapery shops and a dry-cleaning business suffered particularly severe damage. The corrugated roofing of one house caved in during the height of the storm.
Heavy Rain
Te Kuiti recorded 1.41 in (3.6 cm) of rain in 20 minutes on the 26th.
Hawke's Bay
Heavy Rain
at
Hawke's Bay
Heavy rain fell around Hawke's Bay on the 25th and 26th. There was more than 36 hours of intermittent rain, with periods of heavy downpours.
Multi Hazard
Damage was done to road and rail systems.
Flooding
There was a sharp rise in the main Hawke's Bay rivers.
The Ngaruroro River rose 8 ft (2.4 m) above normal.
The Tukituki and Waipawa Rivers had a moderate flood.
Some roads were impassable due to flood waters.
Deep deposits of silt were left in paddocks in the district.
Heavy Rain
at
Eskdale
Eskdale recorded 1.42 in (3.6 cm) of rain on the 26th.
Heavy Rain
at
Fernhill
Fernhill recorded 1.64 in (4.2 cm) of rain on the 25th.
Fernhill recorded 1.16 in (2.9 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 27th.
Heavy Rain
at
Glencoe station
Glencoe recorded 0.70 in (1.8 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 27th.
Heavy Rain
at
Hastings
Hastings recorded 1.68 in (4.3 cm) of rain on the 25th.
Hastings recorded 0.65 in (1.7 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 27th.
Heavy Rain
at
Maraekakaho
Maraekakaho recorded 0.52 in (1.3 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 27th.
Heavy Rain
at
Maraetotara Reserve
Maraetotara recorded 3.58 in (9.1 cm) of rain on the 25th.
Maraetotara recorded 1.70 in (4.3 cm) of rain on the 26th.
Heavy Rain
at
Matapiro station
Matapiro recorded 1.73 in (4.4 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 27th.
Flooding
Piers supporting the Matapiro bridge were undermined.
Heavy Rain
at
Mokopeka station
Mokopeka recorded 0.54 in (1.4 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 27th.
Heavy Rain
at
Otamauri
Otamauri recorded 5.60 in (14.2 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 27th.
Flooding
at
Pakowhai
Flood waters on the road at Pakowai were 2 ft (60 cm) deep.
Heavy Rain
at
Puketapu
Puketapu recorded 1.24 in (3.1 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 27th.
Heavy Rain
at
Puketitiri
Puketitiri recorded 2.61 in (6.6 cm) of rain on the 26th.
Multi Hazard
at
Raupunga
Slips and washouts blocked the railway line near Raupunga.
Heavy Rain
at
Rissington
Rissington recorded 2.31 in (5.9 cm) of rain on the 26th.
Heavy Rain
at
Sherenden
Sherenden recorded 2.37 in (6.0 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 27th.
Multi Hazard
There was a violent electrical storm accompained by hail and torrential rain around Sherenden, Otamauri and Whanawhana.
Hail
Hail covered the countryside in the middle of the storm.
Heavy Rain
at
Taurapa station
Taurapa recorded 0.59 in (1.5 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 27th.
Heavy Rain
at
Te Apiti station
Te Apiti recorded 0.60 in (1.5 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 27th.
Heavy Rain
at
Tuhara
A 'cloudburst' at Tuhora brought the heaviest rainfall in eight years.
The main Wairoa-Gisborne road was flooded.
Surrounding farmland was flooded.
Heavy Rain
at
Tunanui station
Turanui recorded 2.37 in (6.0 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 27th.
Heavy Rain
at
Undercliff station
Undercliff recorded 0.58 in (1.5 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 27th.
Heavy Rain
at
Waipoapoa station
Waipoapoa recorded 1.30 in (3.3 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 27th.
Heavy Rain
at
Waipukurau
Waipukurau recorded 1.33 in (3.4 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 27th.
Flooding
Ballast was washed away on the railway line near the Waipukurau overhead bridge.
Heavy Rain
at
Whanawhana station
Whanawhana recorded 5.33 in (13.5 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 27th.
Flooding
A 200-yard (183-metre) stretch of Whanawhana-Matapiro Road was coated in silt about 2 ft (60 cm) high.
Wellington
High Wind / Gust
at
Wellington
A southerly gale lashed Wellington overnight on the 26th/27th.
Considerable damage was caused to gardens and fences in the Hutt Valley and Wellington.
Winds gusted up to 79 mph (127 km/hr).
Heavy Rain
The wind was accompained by a steady driving rain.
Flooding
at
Hutt River
The Hutt River had a peak flow of approximately 17,400 cusecs (493 cumecs).
Maritime / Coastal
at
Island Bay
At Island Bay, 5-foot (1.5-metre) breakers rolled in from Cook Strait.
Flooding
at
Lower Hutt
Widespread surface flooding occurred in Nainae, Whaiwhetu and Hutt Valley.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Wellington Harbour
The Rangatira from Lyttleton was delayed.
Marlborough
Multi Hazard
at
Marlborough
On the 27th, the Kaikoura coast and Marlborough were hit by the worst southerly storm for many years.
Damage was done over a wide area.
Heavy Rain
at
Blenheim
Blenheim recorded 1.50 in (3.8 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 27th.
Multi Hazard
Severe damage was done to roads around Blenheim and Picton by slips and washouts.
Heavy Rain
at
Havelock
Suburban Havelock recorded 5.97 in (15.2 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 27th.
Havelock recorded 4.74 in (12.0 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 27th.
Flooding
A youth was drowned at Havelock.
There was a washout on the road on the other side of Havelock.
Heavy Rain
at
Mahakipawa Arm
Mahakipawa recorded 7.12 in (18.1 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 27th.
Heavy Rain
at
Marama Farm
Marama recorded 4.42 in (11.2 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 27th.
Heavy Rain
at
Medway Hills
Medway recorded 7.00 in (17.8 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 27th.
Heavy Rain
at
Picton
Picton recorded 5.12 in (13.0 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 27th.
Multi Hazard
Severe damage was done to roads around Blenheim and Picton by slips and washouts.
Flooding
Some flooding occurred in the town.
The railway at Picton was impassable, with ballast washed from under the track.
Tasman-Nelson
Multi Hazard
at
Tasman-Nelson
A south-easterly storm was experienced in the Nelson district on the 27th.
Crop losses were very light. Some growers had lost a few cases of plums and odd limbs.
High Wind / Gust
Winds gusted up to 57 mph (92 km/hr).
High Wind / Gust
at
Nelson City
Trees in the city suffered a buffeting. A landmark Beach Pine tree, planted over 80 years ago, was blown over.
Multi Hazard
at
Waimea River
The Waimea district was completely without power overnight on the 27th/28th.
Canterbury
Multi Hazard
at
Canterbury
On the 27th, the Kaikoura coast and Marlborough were hit by the worst southerly storm for many years.
Flooding
at
Clarence
The Clarence River was running bank to bank in its heaviest flood since 1923.
The Clarence River at Waiauroa Bridge had a peak discharge of 86,000 cusecs (2435 cumecs).
The Clarence River at Waiauroa Bridge had a run off intensity of 1.1 in per hour (2.8 cm/hr).
Flooding
at
Kaikoura
At Kaikoura, the Kowhai River broke its banks, swept down Lyell Creek, and flooded a portion of the town.
A shopping centre and private houses were flooded. Farmland behind the town was also inundated.
The water was 4-5 ft (1.2-1.5 m) deep.
The approaches to the Kowhai traffic bridge were damaged, in part washed out, blocking the main south highway on the 27th.
Damage to Kaikoura county roads totalled £10,000 ($495,000 2008 dollars).
Multi Hazard
at
Lewis Pass
The Lewis Pass route to Christchurch was closed.
References
- Catalogue of Severe Hail Storms, 1924-1986 and 1991-2006. Source: Neale.
- Cowie, C.A.; Attwood, A.K. (1957). Floods in New Zealand 1920-1953. The Soil Conservation Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand.
- Headline: H.B. rivers rise and fall sharply after more rain.
- The Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, 27 November 1952.
- Headline: Rain, thunder, waterspouts and hail at Auckland.
- The Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, 27 November 1952.
- Hydrology Annual No.3, 1955. Soil Conservation and River Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand.
- Headline: Lashed by hail.
- The Nelson Evening Mail, 27 November 1952.
- Headline: Record at Te Kuiti.
- The Nelson Evening Mail, 27 November 1952.
- Headline: Wellington gale.
- The Nelson Evening Mail, 27 November 1952.
- Headline: South-east storm sweeps district.
- The Nelson Evening Mail, 28 November 1952.
November 1952 New Zealand Storm ( 1952-11-25 )
Many parts of New Zealand experienced high winds, heavy rain, flooding, high seas and hail, causing damage and disruption. One person drowned in Marlborough.
New Zealand
Multi Hazard
at
New Zealand
Duration: 3 days - From the 25th to the 27th of November.
There were faults on three of the six toll lines from Nelson to Wellington.
North Island
Flooding
at
North Island
The main road between Taihape and Napier-Hastings was scoured.
South Island
Multi Hazard
at
South Island
The East Coast route from Marlborough to Christchurch was closed.
The toll line from Nelson to Christchurch was rendered unserviceable by trouble somewhere in the Kaikoura region.
Auckland
Multi Hazard
at
Auckland
On the 26th Auckland experienced its worst spring storm for years.
Hail
Hail fell in the suburbs. Heavy hail fell in several suburbs (Remuera, Grey Lynn and Mt Albert), and parts of the North Shore received a heavy battering.
The hail stones were up to the size of marbles.
Lightning
at
Auckland City
Thunder shook the city.
Hail
at
Drury
There was a 30-minute hail storm near Drury.
Hail
at
Milford
Road traffic was stopped between Milford and Campbells Bay due to hail 6 in (15 cm) thick.
Tornado
at
Motuihe Island
The largest of the waterspouts formed near Motuihi Island at about 4pm. The column reached 3000 ft (914 m) in height.
Tornado
at
Waitemata Harbour
Waterspouts formed in the outer Waitemata Harbour.
Waikato
Hail
at
Te Kuiti
Te Kuiti experienced a hail storm shorlty before 3pm on the 26th.
The storm lasted for 20 minutes.
The hail caused crop damage. Orchards in the path of the storm were ruined.
It was the heaviest hail storm on record.
Some hail stones were the size of marbles.
Hail lay in a carpet 5-6 in (12.7-15.2 cm) thick.
The storm swept across the residential and shopping area.
Flooding
Many shops were flooded and were forced to close.
Heavy damage was done to shops, residences and gardens. Two drapery shops and a dry-cleaning business suffered particularly severe damage. The corrugated roofing of one house caved in during the height of the storm.
Heavy Rain
Te Kuiti recorded 1.41 in (3.6 cm) of rain in 20 minutes on the 26th.
Hawke's Bay
Heavy Rain
at
Hawke's Bay
Heavy rain fell around Hawke's Bay on the 25th and 26th. There was more than 36 hours of intermittent rain, with periods of heavy downpours.
Multi Hazard
Damage was done to road and rail systems.
Flooding
There was a sharp rise in the main Hawke's Bay rivers.
The Ngaruroro River rose 8 ft (2.4 m) above normal.
The Tukituki and Waipawa Rivers had a moderate flood.
Some roads were impassable due to flood waters.
Deep deposits of silt were left in paddocks in the district.
Heavy Rain
at
Eskdale
Eskdale recorded 1.42 in (3.6 cm) of rain on the 26th.
Heavy Rain
at
Fernhill
Fernhill recorded 1.64 in (4.2 cm) of rain on the 25th.
Fernhill recorded 1.16 in (2.9 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 27th.
Heavy Rain
at
Glencoe station
Glencoe recorded 0.70 in (1.8 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 27th.
Heavy Rain
at
Hastings
Hastings recorded 1.68 in (4.3 cm) of rain on the 25th.
Hastings recorded 0.65 in (1.7 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 27th.
Heavy Rain
at
Maraekakaho
Maraekakaho recorded 0.52 in (1.3 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 27th.
Heavy Rain
at
Maraetotara Reserve
Maraetotara recorded 3.58 in (9.1 cm) of rain on the 25th.
Maraetotara recorded 1.70 in (4.3 cm) of rain on the 26th.
Heavy Rain
at
Matapiro station
Matapiro recorded 1.73 in (4.4 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 27th.
Flooding
Piers supporting the Matapiro bridge were undermined.
Heavy Rain
at
Mokopeka station
Mokopeka recorded 0.54 in (1.4 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 27th.
Heavy Rain
at
Otamauri
Otamauri recorded 5.60 in (14.2 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 27th.
Flooding
at
Pakowhai
Flood waters on the road at Pakowai were 2 ft (60 cm) deep.
Heavy Rain
at
Puketapu
Puketapu recorded 1.24 in (3.1 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 27th.
Heavy Rain
at
Puketitiri
Puketitiri recorded 2.61 in (6.6 cm) of rain on the 26th.
Multi Hazard
at
Raupunga
Slips and washouts blocked the railway line near Raupunga.
Heavy Rain
at
Rissington
Rissington recorded 2.31 in (5.9 cm) of rain on the 26th.
Heavy Rain
at
Sherenden
Sherenden recorded 2.37 in (6.0 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 27th.
Multi Hazard
There was a violent electrical storm accompained by hail and torrential rain around Sherenden, Otamauri and Whanawhana.
Hail
Hail covered the countryside in the middle of the storm.
Heavy Rain
at
Taurapa station
Taurapa recorded 0.59 in (1.5 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 27th.
Heavy Rain
at
Te Apiti station
Te Apiti recorded 0.60 in (1.5 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 27th.
Heavy Rain
at
Tuhara
A 'cloudburst' at Tuhora brought the heaviest rainfall in eight years.
The main Wairoa-Gisborne road was flooded.
Surrounding farmland was flooded.
Heavy Rain
at
Tunanui station
Turanui recorded 2.37 in (6.0 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 27th.
Heavy Rain
at
Undercliff station
Undercliff recorded 0.58 in (1.5 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 27th.
Heavy Rain
at
Waipoapoa station
Waipoapoa recorded 1.30 in (3.3 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 27th.
Heavy Rain
at
Waipukurau
Waipukurau recorded 1.33 in (3.4 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 27th.
Flooding
Ballast was washed away on the railway line near the Waipukurau overhead bridge.
Heavy Rain
at
Whanawhana station
Whanawhana recorded 5.33 in (13.5 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 27th.
Flooding
A 200-yard (183-metre) stretch of Whanawhana-Matapiro Road was coated in silt about 2 ft (60 cm) high.
Wellington
High Wind / Gust
at
Wellington
A southerly gale lashed Wellington overnight on the 26th/27th.
Considerable damage was caused to gardens and fences in the Hutt Valley and Wellington.
Winds gusted up to 79 mph (127 km/hr).
Heavy Rain
The wind was accompained by a steady driving rain.
Flooding
at
Hutt River
The Hutt River had a peak flow of approximately 17,400 cusecs (493 cumecs).
Maritime / Coastal
at
Island Bay
At Island Bay, 5-foot (1.5-metre) breakers rolled in from Cook Strait.
Flooding
at
Lower Hutt
Widespread surface flooding occurred in Nainae, Whaiwhetu and Hutt Valley.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Wellington Harbour
The Rangatira from Lyttleton was delayed.
Marlborough
Multi Hazard
at
Marlborough
On the 27th, the Kaikoura coast and Marlborough were hit by the worst southerly storm for many years.
Damage was done over a wide area.
Heavy Rain
at
Blenheim
Blenheim recorded 1.50 in (3.8 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 27th.
Multi Hazard
Severe damage was done to roads around Blenheim and Picton by slips and washouts.
Heavy Rain
at
Havelock
Suburban Havelock recorded 5.97 in (15.2 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 27th.
Havelock recorded 4.74 in (12.0 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 27th.
Flooding
A youth was drowned at Havelock.
There was a washout on the road on the other side of Havelock.
Heavy Rain
at
Mahakipawa Arm
Mahakipawa recorded 7.12 in (18.1 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 27th.
Heavy Rain
at
Marama Farm
Marama recorded 4.42 in (11.2 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 27th.
Heavy Rain
at
Medway Hills
Medway recorded 7.00 in (17.8 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 27th.
Heavy Rain
at
Picton
Picton recorded 5.12 in (13.0 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 27th.
Multi Hazard
Severe damage was done to roads around Blenheim and Picton by slips and washouts.
Flooding
Some flooding occurred in the town.
The railway at Picton was impassable, with ballast washed from under the track.
Tasman-Nelson
Multi Hazard
at
Tasman-Nelson
A south-easterly storm was experienced in the Nelson district on the 27th.
Crop losses were very light. Some growers had lost a few cases of plums and odd limbs.
High Wind / Gust
Winds gusted up to 57 mph (92 km/hr).
High Wind / Gust
at
Nelson City
Trees in the city suffered a buffeting. A landmark Beach Pine tree, planted over 80 years ago, was blown over.
Multi Hazard
at
Waimea River
The Waimea district was completely without power overnight on the 27th/28th.
Canterbury
Multi Hazard
at
Canterbury
On the 27th, the Kaikoura coast and Marlborough were hit by the worst southerly storm for many years.
Flooding
at
Clarence
The Clarence River was running bank to bank in its heaviest flood since 1923.
The Clarence River at Waiauroa Bridge had a peak discharge of 86,000 cusecs (2435 cumecs).
The Clarence River at Waiauroa Bridge had a run off intensity of 1.1 in per hour (2.8 cm/hr).
Flooding
at
Kaikoura
At Kaikoura, the Kowhai River broke its banks, swept down Lyell Creek, and flooded a portion of the town.
A shopping centre and private houses were flooded. Farmland behind the town was also inundated.
The water was 4-5 ft (1.2-1.5 m) deep.
The approaches to the Kowhai traffic bridge were damaged, in part washed out, blocking the main south highway on the 27th.
Damage to Kaikoura county roads totalled £10,000 ($495,000 2008 dollars).
Multi Hazard
at
Lewis Pass
The Lewis Pass route to Christchurch was closed.
References
- Catalogue of Severe Hail Storms, 1924-1986 and 1991-2006. Source: Neale.
- Cowie, C.A.; Attwood, A.K. (1957). Floods in New Zealand 1920-1953. The Soil Conservation Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand.
- Headline: H.B. rivers rise and fall sharply after more rain.
- The Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, 27 November 1952.
- Headline: Rain, thunder, waterspouts and hail at Auckland.
- The Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, 27 November 1952.
- Hydrology Annual No.3, 1955. Soil Conservation and River Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand.
- Headline: Lashed by hail.
- The Nelson Evening Mail, 27 November 1952.
- Headline: Record at Te Kuiti.
- The Nelson Evening Mail, 27 November 1952.
- Headline: Wellington gale.
- The Nelson Evening Mail, 27 November 1952.
- Headline: South-east storm sweeps district.
- The Nelson Evening Mail, 28 November 1952.