NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
November 2008 Canterbury Hail
(
2008-11-17
)
50 years
An intense hailstorm hit the Ashburton area, causing million of dollars of damage. Also, heavy rain in Taranaki and a small tornado in Hawke's Bay.
New Zealand
Multi Hazard
at
New Zealand
Duration: 1 day -
Insurance claims for the hail storm total $11.2 million.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 18:34 pm 16-Nov-2008: Band of heavy rain over Westland and the headwaters of the Canterbury and Otago rivers moving slowly north to Buller and northwest Nelson overnight Sunday. Spell of severe northwest gales in parts of Marlborough, Wellington and Wairarapa Monday morning. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: Westland, Buller, Nelson, Otago and Canterbury; and STRONG WIND WARNING for: exposed areas of the Sounds, eastern Marlborough and near the hill tops and ranges of Wellington and Wairarapa.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:47 am 17-Nov-2008: Band of heavy rain from Taranaki to Marlborough is moving northeast. Severe northerly gales in parts of Wairarapa, Wellington and Marlborough this morning. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: Mt Taranaki; and STRONG WIND WARNING for: exposed areas of the Sounds, eastern Marlborough and near the hill tops and ranges of Wellington and Wairarapa. WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE: Heavy Rain Warnings lifted for Westland, ranges of Buller, northwest Nelson and Nelson Lakes, also headwaters of Otago and Canterbury north of Lake Wakatipu.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 3:15 pm 17-Nov-2008: Heavy rain and severe gale warnings lifted. WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE: Heavy Rain Warning lifted for Mt Taranaki; Strong Wind Warnings lifted for exposed parts of the Marlborough Sounds, eastern Marlborough and the hill tops and ranges of Wellington and Wairarapa
MetService SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH issued at 04:04 pm Monday 17 November 2008 for: Christchurch and Canterbury Plains. Scattered thunderstorms are occurring over the Canterbury Plains, with localised heavy rain and hail.
Hawke's Bay
Tornado
at
Haumoana
During mid-afternoon rain on the 17th, a Tukutuki Rd farmer had to grab his dog and jump into a ditch to avoid a "mini tornado" - a vortex full of hay and dirt - heading in his direction. Minutes earlier, he had noticed a sudden drop in temperature.
Seventy-five metres of heavy bird netting fell from the sky as the vortex changed its northerly direction and headed south towards Haumoana. The netting was not from nearby.
Taranaki
Heavy Rain
at
Taranaki
Sudden, heavy rainfall fell across the Taranaki region on the morning of the 17th.
Four car crashes, one serious, were reported in the district, probably caused by the slippery film which rain creates on the road after a dry spell.
Multi Hazard
at
New Plymouth
The New Plymouth Airport was shut down due to the weather conditions. A flooded runway combined with strong cross-winds forced one flight from Auckland to turn back after circling above the airport, when conditions were declared too dangerous to land. A flight from Wellington was cancelled, leaving travellers who were supposed to board the plane for Christchurch stranded.
Heavy Rain
Nearly 26 mm (2.6 cm) of rain fell in New Plymouth in the five hours up to 11am on the 17th.
Heavy Rain
at
North Egmont
172 mm (17.2 cm) of rain fell at the North Egmont Visitor Centre on Mt Taranaki in the 12 hours from midnight.
Canterbury
Hail
at
Canterbury
Duration: - The hail storm lasted for 15 minutes.
A south-westerly change occurred on the 17th. The hail was driven by a pool of very cold air crossing the island, driving thunderstorms and hail in its wake.
Hail
at
Ashburton
An intense band of hail hammered its way across Ashburton late on the afternoon of the 17th.
The hail smashed glasshouses, skylights and windows, ruined gardens, damaged street lights and shop signs and created hazardous driving conditions. There were multiple broken windows in hundreds of houses and up to 10 broken windows in some.
The main victims of the hail were cars, with hundreds damaged. At one business virtually every car in the yard was damaged. So many cars were damaged by the hail that insurance companies and panelbeater firms brought in experts from overseas to clear the workload. The AMI Insurance national assessment manager estimated there would be sufficient work to keep dent teams busy for at least eight months.
It was the worst hailstorm to hit the town in decades, said to be a one in 50 years storm. Residents described the hailstorm as the worst they had ever experienced.
Many of the stones were larger than 2.5 cm. Some were walnnut-sized and some were said to be as big as golf balls.
Ashburton’s hail belt appeared to have run between Farm Road and the Ashburton Airport.
The hail sounded like bullets going off and the noise from the falling hail on roof tops could be heard three streets away. The hail didn’t just fall straight down but came side on too.
Ashburton emergency services were kept busy attending everything from roof fires to car crashes. Hail stones flooded streets and businesses.
At the historic arcade, skylights broke and guttering overflowed. Water flooded into Redmond’s Furnishing shop in the historic arcade, with torrents flowing out of the ceiling. Beach Road store also lost many magazines and newspapers after the store’s gutters gave up on the hail.
Insurance experts said the cost of damage from the hail would top $1 million.
Some orchardists had their crops decimated and next years raspberry canes were also damaged. Hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of crops were shredded to pieces just three weeks before harvest.
Lightning
The Christchurch Press reported Ashburton the deputy fire chief as saying a lightning strike hit the roof of a Nelson Street house but did not cause major damage.
Hail
at
Fairton
A Fairton crop farmer estimated they had lost between $50,000-$150,000 through the property.
Hail
at
Seafield
Seafield market gardeners Pauline and Roger Withell had three of their large glasshouses smashed by the hailstorm and a large quantity of lettuce plants shredded. Hailstones blasted through the skylights of the processing house where staff were working and had to dive for cover.
The damage would mean an interrupted growing season for the market gardeners.
References
- Headline: Cleanup begins following freak hail storm.
- www.3news.co.nz, Source: 3 News, 18 November 2008, 12:59pm.
- Headline: Hailstorm causes severe, expensive damage in Ashburton.
- www.3news.co.nz, Source: 3 News, 18 November 2008, 6:09pm.
- Headline: Hail batters Ashburton.
- www.ashburtonguardian.co.nz, 18 November 2008.
- Headline: Insurance companies 'swamped'.
- www.ashburtonguardian.co.nz, 19 November 2008.
- Headline: Hail too much for the Arcade.
- www.ashburtonguardian.co.nz, 19 November 2008.
- Headline: Hail-hit motorists have to wait.
- www.ashburtonguardian.co.nz, 26 November 2008.
- Headline: Tornado hits farm.
- www.hbtoday.co.nz, 18 November 2008.
- Meteorological Society of New Zealand (Inc.). (2008). Climate summary for spring 2008. Newsletter 115, December 2008. 12-22
- Headline: Deluge sees NP airport shut down.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Taranaki Daily News, 18 November 2008.
- Headline: Ashburton bears icy brunt.
- tvnz.co.nz, Source: ONE News, 17 November 2008, 11:49pm.
- Headline: Ashburton hail damage bill to soar.
- tvnz.co.nz, Source: ONE News, 18 November 2008, 6:34pm.
- MetService Email Lists
- Insurance Council of New Zealand (www.icnz.org.nz/current/weather)
November 2008 Canterbury Hail
(
2008-11-17
)
50 years
An intense hailstorm hit the Ashburton area, causing million of dollars of damage. Also, heavy rain in Taranaki and a small tornado in Hawke's Bay.
New Zealand
Multi Hazard
at
New Zealand
Duration: 1 day -
Insurance claims for the hail storm total $11.2 million.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 18:34 pm 16-Nov-2008: Band of heavy rain over Westland and the headwaters of the Canterbury and Otago rivers moving slowly north to Buller and northwest Nelson overnight Sunday. Spell of severe northwest gales in parts of Marlborough, Wellington and Wairarapa Monday morning. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: Westland, Buller, Nelson, Otago and Canterbury; and STRONG WIND WARNING for: exposed areas of the Sounds, eastern Marlborough and near the hill tops and ranges of Wellington and Wairarapa.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:47 am 17-Nov-2008: Band of heavy rain from Taranaki to Marlborough is moving northeast. Severe northerly gales in parts of Wairarapa, Wellington and Marlborough this morning. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: Mt Taranaki; and STRONG WIND WARNING for: exposed areas of the Sounds, eastern Marlborough and near the hill tops and ranges of Wellington and Wairarapa. WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE: Heavy Rain Warnings lifted for Westland, ranges of Buller, northwest Nelson and Nelson Lakes, also headwaters of Otago and Canterbury north of Lake Wakatipu.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 3:15 pm 17-Nov-2008: Heavy rain and severe gale warnings lifted. WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE: Heavy Rain Warning lifted for Mt Taranaki; Strong Wind Warnings lifted for exposed parts of the Marlborough Sounds, eastern Marlborough and the hill tops and ranges of Wellington and Wairarapa
MetService SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH issued at 04:04 pm Monday 17 November 2008 for: Christchurch and Canterbury Plains. Scattered thunderstorms are occurring over the Canterbury Plains, with localised heavy rain and hail.
Hawke's Bay
Tornado
at
Haumoana
During mid-afternoon rain on the 17th, a Tukutuki Rd farmer had to grab his dog and jump into a ditch to avoid a "mini tornado" - a vortex full of hay and dirt - heading in his direction. Minutes earlier, he had noticed a sudden drop in temperature.
Seventy-five metres of heavy bird netting fell from the sky as the vortex changed its northerly direction and headed south towards Haumoana. The netting was not from nearby.
Taranaki
Heavy Rain
at
Taranaki
Sudden, heavy rainfall fell across the Taranaki region on the morning of the 17th.
Four car crashes, one serious, were reported in the district, probably caused by the slippery film which rain creates on the road after a dry spell.
Multi Hazard
at
New Plymouth
The New Plymouth Airport was shut down due to the weather conditions. A flooded runway combined with strong cross-winds forced one flight from Auckland to turn back after circling above the airport, when conditions were declared too dangerous to land. A flight from Wellington was cancelled, leaving travellers who were supposed to board the plane for Christchurch stranded.
Heavy Rain
Nearly 26 mm (2.6 cm) of rain fell in New Plymouth in the five hours up to 11am on the 17th.
Heavy Rain
at
North Egmont
172 mm (17.2 cm) of rain fell at the North Egmont Visitor Centre on Mt Taranaki in the 12 hours from midnight.
Canterbury
Hail
at
Canterbury
Duration: - The hail storm lasted for 15 minutes.
A south-westerly change occurred on the 17th. The hail was driven by a pool of very cold air crossing the island, driving thunderstorms and hail in its wake.
Hail
at
Ashburton
An intense band of hail hammered its way across Ashburton late on the afternoon of the 17th.
The hail smashed glasshouses, skylights and windows, ruined gardens, damaged street lights and shop signs and created hazardous driving conditions. There were multiple broken windows in hundreds of houses and up to 10 broken windows in some.
The main victims of the hail were cars, with hundreds damaged. At one business virtually every car in the yard was damaged. So many cars were damaged by the hail that insurance companies and panelbeater firms brought in experts from overseas to clear the workload. The AMI Insurance national assessment manager estimated there would be sufficient work to keep dent teams busy for at least eight months.
It was the worst hailstorm to hit the town in decades, said to be a one in 50 years storm. Residents described the hailstorm as the worst they had ever experienced.
Many of the stones were larger than 2.5 cm. Some were walnnut-sized and some were said to be as big as golf balls.
Ashburton’s hail belt appeared to have run between Farm Road and the Ashburton Airport.
The hail sounded like bullets going off and the noise from the falling hail on roof tops could be heard three streets away. The hail didn’t just fall straight down but came side on too.
Ashburton emergency services were kept busy attending everything from roof fires to car crashes. Hail stones flooded streets and businesses.
At the historic arcade, skylights broke and guttering overflowed. Water flooded into Redmond’s Furnishing shop in the historic arcade, with torrents flowing out of the ceiling. Beach Road store also lost many magazines and newspapers after the store’s gutters gave up on the hail.
Insurance experts said the cost of damage from the hail would top $1 million.
Some orchardists had their crops decimated and next years raspberry canes were also damaged. Hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of crops were shredded to pieces just three weeks before harvest.
Lightning
The Christchurch Press reported Ashburton the deputy fire chief as saying a lightning strike hit the roof of a Nelson Street house but did not cause major damage.
Hail
at
Fairton
A Fairton crop farmer estimated they had lost between $50,000-$150,000 through the property.
Hail
at
Seafield
Seafield market gardeners Pauline and Roger Withell had three of their large glasshouses smashed by the hailstorm and a large quantity of lettuce plants shredded. Hailstones blasted through the skylights of the processing house where staff were working and had to dive for cover.
The damage would mean an interrupted growing season for the market gardeners.
References
- Headline: Cleanup begins following freak hail storm.
- www.3news.co.nz, Source: 3 News, 18 November 2008, 12:59pm.
- Headline: Hailstorm causes severe, expensive damage in Ashburton.
- www.3news.co.nz, Source: 3 News, 18 November 2008, 6:09pm.
- Headline: Hail batters Ashburton.
- www.ashburtonguardian.co.nz, 18 November 2008.
- Headline: Insurance companies 'swamped'.
- www.ashburtonguardian.co.nz, 19 November 2008.
- Headline: Hail too much for the Arcade.
- www.ashburtonguardian.co.nz, 19 November 2008.
- Headline: Hail-hit motorists have to wait.
- www.ashburtonguardian.co.nz, 26 November 2008.
- Headline: Tornado hits farm.
- www.hbtoday.co.nz, 18 November 2008.
- Meteorological Society of New Zealand (Inc.). (2008). Climate summary for spring 2008. Newsletter 115, December 2008. 12-22
- Headline: Deluge sees NP airport shut down.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Taranaki Daily News, 18 November 2008.
- Headline: Ashburton bears icy brunt.
- tvnz.co.nz, Source: ONE News, 17 November 2008, 11:49pm.
- Headline: Ashburton hail damage bill to soar.
- tvnz.co.nz, Source: ONE News, 18 November 2008, 6:34pm.
- MetService Email Lists
- Insurance Council of New Zealand (www.icnz.org.nz/current/weather)