NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
November 1978 Taranaki and Manawatu-Wanganui Flooding ( 1978-11-11 )
A Civil Defence Emergency was declared in Ohura after heavy rain caused the Mangaroa River to flood.
North Island
Multi Hazard
at
North Island
On the 11th a complex trough of low pressure lay across central New Zealand to the north-east of Tasman and was moving slowly north.
From the 11th to the 12th of November.
Waikato
Flooding
at
Awakino
There was extensive flooding in the Awakino area.
Taranaki
Flooding
at
Taranaki
Strathmore Road was blocked by flooding.
Landslide
State Highway 40, 3 and 43 were all closed due to slips.
The Taumarunui-New Plymouth railway line was out of action after a train hit a slip near Nihinihi.
Slips blocked Brewer Road and Junction Road.
Multi Hazard
Air New Zealand flights had major timetable disruptions due to the weather.
Heavy Rain
at
Hawera
Hawera recorded 16 mm (1.6 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Landslide
at
Mount Messenger
There were several slips on Mt Messenger.
A major undercut on the north side of the mountain's tunnel was keeping the traffic to one lane.
Heavy Rain
at
New Plymouth
The World Series Cricket match at New Plymouth's Pukekura Park was abandoned because of rain.
New Plymouth recorded 40 mm (4.0 cm) of rain overnight.
New Plymouth recorded 41.9 mm (4.19 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Heavy Rain
at
Stratford
Stratford Mountain House recorded 300 mm (30 cm) of rain in three days.
Stratford recorded 50 mm (5.0 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Multi Hazard
The area east of Stratford was hard hit by torrential rain and high winds.
High Wind / Gust
The winds brought down trees and there was debris on roads.
Manawatu-Wanganui
Heavy Rain
at
Ohura
36 hours of continuous rain swelled the Mangaroa River.
Flooding
A Civil Defence Emergency was declared at 5pm on the 12th until the 13th.
Mangaroa River broke its banks and the floodwaters threatened the town.
80 people were evacuated. Residents were evacuated from 25 homes and included families with four or five children.
Stock wasmoved to higher ground.
Mangaroa River spread over flat grass land before rising and entering Ohura. It covered nearly three quarters of the town to depths of up to 5 ft (1.52 m).
Ohura was isolated and the floods cut roads and rail links in northeast Taranaki.
Houses suffered structural damage.
Landslide
Road access to the town was blocked by slips.
References
- Civil Defence Declarations Since 1 January 1963, Declared Civil Defence Emergencies,31 December 1999.
- Meteorological Observations for 1978, Stations in New Zealand and Outlying Islands, and stations in Cook Islands, Kingdom of Tonga, Western Samoa, Tokelau, Tuvalu, Gilbert Islands (Kirabati), Niue Island, and Line Island. New Zealand Meteorological Service.
- Headline: Rained off
- Taranaki Herald, 11 November 1978
- Headline: Sunshine again for Taranaki: Vital northern link partly open; two routes still closed
- Taranaki Herald, 11 November 1978
- Headline: The Weather
- Taranaki Herald, 11 November 1978.
- Headline: Ohura residents flee in face of floodwaters.
- The Wanganui Chronicle, 13 November 1978.
November 1978 Taranaki and Manawatu-Wanganui Flooding ( 1978-11-11 )
A Civil Defence Emergency was declared in Ohura after heavy rain caused the Mangaroa River to flood.
North Island
Multi Hazard
at
North Island
On the 11th a complex trough of low pressure lay across central New Zealand to the north-east of Tasman and was moving slowly north.
From the 11th to the 12th of November.
Waikato
Flooding
at
Awakino
There was extensive flooding in the Awakino area.
Taranaki
Flooding
at
Taranaki
Strathmore Road was blocked by flooding.
Landslide
State Highway 40, 3 and 43 were all closed due to slips.
The Taumarunui-New Plymouth railway line was out of action after a train hit a slip near Nihinihi.
Slips blocked Brewer Road and Junction Road.
Multi Hazard
Air New Zealand flights had major timetable disruptions due to the weather.
Heavy Rain
at
Hawera
Hawera recorded 16 mm (1.6 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Landslide
at
Mount Messenger
There were several slips on Mt Messenger.
A major undercut on the north side of the mountain's tunnel was keeping the traffic to one lane.
Heavy Rain
at
New Plymouth
The World Series Cricket match at New Plymouth's Pukekura Park was abandoned because of rain.
New Plymouth recorded 40 mm (4.0 cm) of rain overnight.
New Plymouth recorded 41.9 mm (4.19 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Heavy Rain
at
Stratford
Stratford Mountain House recorded 300 mm (30 cm) of rain in three days.
Stratford recorded 50 mm (5.0 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Multi Hazard
The area east of Stratford was hard hit by torrential rain and high winds.
High Wind / Gust
The winds brought down trees and there was debris on roads.
Manawatu-Wanganui
Heavy Rain
at
Ohura
36 hours of continuous rain swelled the Mangaroa River.
Flooding
A Civil Defence Emergency was declared at 5pm on the 12th until the 13th.
Mangaroa River broke its banks and the floodwaters threatened the town.
80 people were evacuated. Residents were evacuated from 25 homes and included families with four or five children.
Stock wasmoved to higher ground.
Mangaroa River spread over flat grass land before rising and entering Ohura. It covered nearly three quarters of the town to depths of up to 5 ft (1.52 m).
Ohura was isolated and the floods cut roads and rail links in northeast Taranaki.
Houses suffered structural damage.
Landslide
Road access to the town was blocked by slips.
References
- Civil Defence Declarations Since 1 January 1963, Declared Civil Defence Emergencies,31 December 1999.
- Meteorological Observations for 1978, Stations in New Zealand and Outlying Islands, and stations in Cook Islands, Kingdom of Tonga, Western Samoa, Tokelau, Tuvalu, Gilbert Islands (Kirabati), Niue Island, and Line Island. New Zealand Meteorological Service.
- Headline: Rained off
- Taranaki Herald, 11 November 1978
- Headline: Sunshine again for Taranaki: Vital northern link partly open; two routes still closed
- Taranaki Herald, 11 November 1978
- Headline: The Weather
- Taranaki Herald, 11 November 1978.
- Headline: Ohura residents flee in face of floodwaters.
- The Wanganui Chronicle, 13 November 1978.