NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
October 1955 Northland Storm
(
1955-10-04
)
A storm brought heavy rain, flooding, lightning and landslides to places throughout Northland. Hail was also experienced at Parua Bay. One man was thought to have been drowned and two men were injured.
North Island
Multi Hazard
at
North Island
Duration: 5 days - From the 2nd to the 6th of October.
One NAC Auckland-Whangarei flight was cancelled on the 5th.
Northland
Multi Hazard
at
Northland
Weather on the 4th: "A deep depression over the central Tasman Sea is moving slowly eatwards as a ridge of high presure extends across the south Tasman Sea on to southern New Zaland. Forecast till midnight on Wednesday: North-easterly winds, fresh, possibly becoming strong in exposed areas, and slowly turning easterly during tomorrow. Cloudy to overcast and mild, with periods of rain and the likelihood of some heavy falls, especially in eastern districts. Outlook for Thursday: Showery."
Weather on the 5th: "A deression centered north-west of Northland is slow-moving, and a ridge of high pressure lies from south-east Australia to southern New Zealand. Forecast till midnight on Thursday: Moderate east to north-east winds. Weather unsettled, with showers, heavy at times. Temperatures mild. Outlook for Friday: Scattered showers."
Communication by road and rail was interrtuped. The Kaikohe-Opononi road was blocked on the 6th. The Mangamuka route was blocked by a few slips and by flooding at Rangiahua. A bridge was also swept away. The Kaeo road was the only road open to the north on the morning of the 6th. The main road between Kohukohu and Broadwood was blocked in at least two places by slips and flooding.
Telephone services were cut in many parts of Northland due to flooding, lightning and humidity. Lightning blew guards on many people's properties. Telephone lines north of Dargaville were seriously affected by lightning.
Mangonui County was isolated on the morning of the 6th after the highways were blocked.
Lightning
An electrical storm with thunder, lightning and heavy rain swept Northland on the 5th. Lightning flashed for 14 hours in the Middle North.
There were power failures on the feeder lines from the State Hydro-Electric Department's Maungatapere substation to the North Auckland Power Board's system, caused by lightning. There was lightning damage to transformers as far north as Waiharahara. There were telephone, power and road interruptions around the ranges from Oruru to Broadwood.
Cows were unable to be milked due to the power interruptions, and cream collections by dairy companies were delayed.
Telephone lines and power lines were cut all around the Mangonui County.
Flooding
There was serious flooding in the Dargaville-Kaikohe area. Several thousand acres were flooded.
There was shallow water over roads in various places. The Kaikohe-Dargaville road via Waipoua Forest was impassable due to a bridge at Waimamaku being destroyed.
Cattle, sheep and pigs were drowned.
Extensive flooding occurred throughout the Hokianga county. Large areas of farmland were under water on the 6th.
Flooding
at
Awanui
Water lay behind shops and houses at Awanui.
Lightning
at
Cape Brett
The Cape Brett peninsula was cut off from telephone communication on the 6th.
Heavy Rain
at
Dargaville
Dargaville recorded 216 mm (21.6 cm) of rain.
Lightning
In the Dargaville area, power poles were shattered by lightning and a main feeder cable was put out of action.
Lightning
at
Donnellys Crossing
Donnellys Crossing was isloated by telephone communication on the 6th after lightning cut the toll lines.
Landslide
at
Herekino Gorge
Two large slips in the Herekino Gorge blocked the road.
Flooding
at
Horeke
Due to the Mangataraire bridge being impassable, school children from the Horeke area had to be billeted at Okaihau on the night of the 5th.
Flooding
at
Kaeo
The Kaeo route was impassable due to water on the road at Kaeo until midday on the 6th.
Flooding
at
Kahikatoa
Te Tio Road was under water on the 6th.
Multi Hazard
at
Kaihu
The Opononi and forest route was blocked at Kaihu on the 6th.
Heavy Rain
at
Kaikohe
Kaikohe recorded 0.70 in (1.8 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 8am on the 5th.
Kaikohe recorded 7.37 in (18.7 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 8am on the 6th. This was the heaviest 24-hour fall for 21 years.
The rain stopped for about an hour on the morning of the 6th but began again around 10am.
Lightning
Telephone lines in the Kaikohe area were seriously affected by lightning. There were minor interruptions at Kaikohe.
Power was cut at Kaikohe for about an hour after lightning struck a transformer there.
Flooding
at
Kaingaroa
A bridge at Kaingaroa had its approaches washed out.
Heavy Rain
at
Kaitaia
Kaitaia recorded 0.31 in (0.8 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 8am on the 5th, having escaped most of the storm.
Flooding
Water surged over the highway at Larmer Road, just south of Kaitaia, on the 6th. A mile further down, the river was flowing bank-high along the road.
Flood waters spilled over the flats above Kaitaia and roared down through Tarawhaturoa Stream.
Heavy Rain
at
Kohukohu
Kohukohu experinced the heaviest rain in its 27 years of records.
Kohukohu recorded 6.02 in (15.3 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 6th.
Flooding
at
Mangakahia River
The Whangarei-Kaikohe highway via Mangakahia was blocked by flood waters at Fraser's Flat and Langham's Flat on the 6th.
There was reported to be 6 ft (1.8 m) of water at Langham's Flat.
Landslide
at
Mangamuka Gorge
There were six slips in the Mangamuka Gorge.
Lightning
at
Mangonui
A serious electrical storm was experienced in the Mangonui area on the 5th.
Heavy Rain
Mangonui received 3 1/2 in (8.9 cm) of rain on the 5th.
Flooding
at
Mangataraire
The Mangataraire Bridge was impassable on the night of the 5th.
Lightning
at
Mataraua
A severe electrical storm was experienced at Mataraua on the night of the 5th.
Multi Hazard
Telephone poles were washed out and transformers blew out. There was no power from 12pm on the 5th until 9am on the 6th.
Flooding
The Mataraua Valley was flooded, becoming a huge sea of water. Most of the homes in the area were completely surrounded.
The floods in the area were compared to those as far back as 1917. This flood was considered far worse than the severe floods of March 1936.
Stock losses in the area were heavy. Sheep, cattle and pigs were drowned.
The floods caused severe damage. Trees were swept away.
Fences and gates were swept out of the ground.
Many dairy herds were unable to be milked on the night of the 5th.
The main road to Mataraua was under water in places that had never been reached by flood waters.
One creek had risen more than 30 ft (9.1 m) by the night of the 5th.
Landslide
A large slip about 3 chains (60 m) long blocked the road to the school.
Heavy Rain
at
Maungakaramea
Maungakaramea recorded 0.95 in (2.4 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 8am or 9am on the 5th.
Heavy Rain
at
Maungatapere
Maungatapere recorded 2.94 in (7.5 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 2nd.
Maungatapere recorded 1.62 in (4.1 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to the morning of the 6th.
Landslide
at
Mohuiti
There was a slip on the main road near Mohuiti junction.
Flooding
at
Motukaraka
At the Hokianga Co-op Dairy Company, a storage dam overflowed and water flooded the building, causing serious damage.
Lightning
at
Okaihau
There were minor interruptions in telephone communication at Okaihau.
Landslide
A goods train was engulfed by a slip on the Kaikohe-Okaihau line, about 5 miles (8 km) from Okaihau, at about 7:15am on the 6th. Part of the engine left the rails and about 12 trucks broke away and crashed down a hill, some getting badly smashed.
The railway was left with 60 ft (18 m) of the line suspended in the air. It was expected to take a few days to clear the line.
Flooding
at
Omahuta
Omahuta Road was under water on the 6th.
Flooding
at
Omanaia
A man was feared drowned after he was swept away while crossing a flooded stream on horseback at Omanaia on the evening of the 5th.
Heavy Rain
at
Onerahi
Onerahi Aerodrome recorded 1.64 in (4.2 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 8am or 9am on the 5th.
Onerahi recorded 1.86 in (4.7 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to the morning of the 6th.
Landslide
at
Orawau
There were slips on the Kauapepe Road.
Lightning
at
Oruru
The Oruru area was hammered by lightning.
Landslide
at
Paponga
There were slips on the Paponga Road.
Hail
at
Parua Bay
A heavy hail storm occurred at Parua Bay at 8:30am on the 5th.
The hail storm lasted for 20 minutes.
Many of the hail stones were said to have a circumference larger than a halfcrown.
Hillsides in the area were turned white. A foot (30 cm) of ice lay in the watertables as late as 1pm.
Landslide
at
Puketona
The Kawakawa-Kaeo road was blocked by a slip between Puketona and the Kerikeri turnoff on the 5th.
Flooding
at
Rangiahua
Flooding at Rangiahua blocked the highway.
Lightning
at
Rawene
There were minor interruptions in telephone communication at Rawene.
Flooding
at
Ruakaka
There was water over the state highway in several places betwee Mata and Ruakaka on the morning of the 5th, but it was still passable.
Heavy Rain
at
Ruatangata West
Ruatangata recorded 1.50 in (3.8 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 6th.
Ruatangata recorded 6.31 in (16.0 cm) of rain in the five days from the 1st to the 5th.
Multi Hazard
at
Russell
Continuous thunder, lightning and rain occurred at Russell on the 5th.
Lightning
There were power failures at Russell.
Heavy Rain
Russell recorded 1.33 in (3.4 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 8am on the 5th.
Flooding
Russell Road was blocked by 8 in (20.3 cm) of water on the 6th.
Heavy Rain
at
Taheke
Taheke experienced two days of torrential rain.
Lightning
The rain was accompanied by thunder and lightning.
Flooding
The community was isolated by flooding on the 6th.
In some places the flooding was worse than in the big flood of 20 years before.
Some people were flooded out of their homes.
The flood waters were up to the decking of the Taheke concrete bridge on the night of the 5th and on the 6th.
Water was over the road to a depth of 5-6 ft (1.5-1.8 m), leaving it impassable on the 5th and the morning of the 6th. At least two small bridges were swept away.
A truck was stranded at the western end of the bridge, with water up to the steering wheel.
An implement shed near the bridge was swept down the river to the sea.
There was about 3 ft (90 cm) of water over the Taheke-Kaikohe road about 3 miles (4.8 km) from Taheke.
One farmer with eight children had to abandon his house on the afternoon of the 5th due to flood waters.
The farmer had moved some of his possessions to a high place that was not reached by the flood of 20 years prior, but the flood rose above that level on the 6th, leaving him with nothing.
Stock losses in the Taheke area were reported to be quite heavy.
A man and his rescuer were badly cut when they were swept against a wire fence. The man had to be rescued from atop a signpost on the Rawene side of the bridge after he tried to wade through the flood waters and was swept off his feet.
Multi Hazard
Milking was held up in the area due to power cuts and flooding.
Flooding
at
Taumarere
The was flooding on the Kawakawa-Paihia road at Taumarere on the 5th.
Flooding
at
Te Karae
A bridge on the main road at Te Karae was washed out.
Flooding
at
Titoki
The Wairoa River was running high on the Whangarei side of Titoki on the 5th.
Flooding
at
Waimamaku
Flood waters washed out a telephone pole at Waimamaku, isolating communication with the area.
A truss bridge at Waimamaku was destroyed.
Multi Hazard
at
Waiotehue
The Waiotehue Road was blocked on the 6th.
Heavy Rain
at
Waipu
Waipu recorded 2.16 in (5.5 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 8am or 9am on the 5th.
Lightning
Waipu experienced a thunderstorm, which was said to be the worst for several years.
Heavy Rain
at
Wairua Falls
Wairua Falls recorded 1.09 in (2.8 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 8am or 9am on the 5th.
Wairua Falls recorded 2.04 in (5.2 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 8am on the 6th.
Flooding
The flood water outside the power station was 2 ft (60 cm) above the level of the floor on the morning of the 6th. The water was rising at the rate of 2 in an hour (5 cm/hr)
Multi Hazard
at
Whangarei
The barometer read 30.04 at 8am on the 4th.
The barometer read 30.06 at 8am on the 5th.
Heavy Rain
Rain began to fall at Whangarei at about midnight on the 4th. Heavy rain continued into the night of the 5th and morning of the 6th, easing around midday.
Whangarei recorded 0.19 in (0.5 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 8am on the 4th.
Whangarei recorded 1.49 in (3.8 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 8am on the 5th.
Whangarei recorded 2.32 in (5.9 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 8am on the 6th.
Whangarei recorded 10.35 in (26.3 cm) of rain in the five days from the 1st to the 5th.
Lightning
About 350 telephones in the rural Whangarei area were cut on the 5th.
Flooding
Minor surface flooding occurred in Whangarei streets when gutters overflowed. There was water over Cairnfield Road near the King Street intersection and James Street by Victoria Bridge had water almost right over it.
Water entered several Whangarei shops on the 6th. Flood waters poured into the cellar of the Kamo Hotel on the 6th and beer kegs were floating around.
Flood water at the Ewings Road-Onerahi Road corner was 2 ft (60 cm) deep on the morning of the 6th.
A house in Kauika Road on the Maunu side of the bridge was surrounded by water.
References
- Major weather events in New Zealand, Floods and High Rainfall, Floods to 31st July 2006.
- Headline: Northland weather.
- The Northern Advocate, 4 October 1955.
- Headline: Northland weather.
- The Northern Advocate, 5 October 1955.
- Headline: Some flooding, power failures follow storm.
- The Northern Advocate, 5 October 1955.
- Headline: Blocked roads.
- The Northern Advocate, 6 October 1955.
- Headline: Conditions chaotic in Hokianga.
- The Northern Advocate, 6 October 1955.
- Headline: Engine, 12 trucks pushed from track.
- The Northern Advocate, 6 October 1955.
- Headline: Heavy hail at Parua Bay.
- The Northern Advocate, 6 October 1955.
- Headline: Heavy losses of stock in Mataraua Valley area.
- The Northern Advocate, 6 October 1955.
- Headline: Mangonui isolated.
- The Northern Advocate, 6 October 1955.
- Headline: Narrow escapes in deluge at Taheke.
- The Northern Advocate, 6 October 1955.
- Headline: Serious flooding in all parts of Northland: Horseman drowned, slip derails train.
- The Northern Advocate, 6 October 1955.
October 1955 Northland Storm
(
1955-10-04
)
A storm brought heavy rain, flooding, lightning and landslides to places throughout Northland. Hail was also experienced at Parua Bay. One man was thought to have been drowned and two men were injured.
North Island
Multi Hazard
at
North Island
Duration: 5 days - From the 2nd to the 6th of October.
One NAC Auckland-Whangarei flight was cancelled on the 5th.
Northland
Multi Hazard
at
Northland
Weather on the 4th: "A deep depression over the central Tasman Sea is moving slowly eatwards as a ridge of high presure extends across the south Tasman Sea on to southern New Zaland. Forecast till midnight on Wednesday: North-easterly winds, fresh, possibly becoming strong in exposed areas, and slowly turning easterly during tomorrow. Cloudy to overcast and mild, with periods of rain and the likelihood of some heavy falls, especially in eastern districts. Outlook for Thursday: Showery."
Weather on the 5th: "A deression centered north-west of Northland is slow-moving, and a ridge of high pressure lies from south-east Australia to southern New Zealand. Forecast till midnight on Thursday: Moderate east to north-east winds. Weather unsettled, with showers, heavy at times. Temperatures mild. Outlook for Friday: Scattered showers."
Communication by road and rail was interrtuped. The Kaikohe-Opononi road was blocked on the 6th. The Mangamuka route was blocked by a few slips and by flooding at Rangiahua. A bridge was also swept away. The Kaeo road was the only road open to the north on the morning of the 6th. The main road between Kohukohu and Broadwood was blocked in at least two places by slips and flooding.
Telephone services were cut in many parts of Northland due to flooding, lightning and humidity. Lightning blew guards on many people's properties. Telephone lines north of Dargaville were seriously affected by lightning.
Mangonui County was isolated on the morning of the 6th after the highways were blocked.
Lightning
An electrical storm with thunder, lightning and heavy rain swept Northland on the 5th. Lightning flashed for 14 hours in the Middle North.
There were power failures on the feeder lines from the State Hydro-Electric Department's Maungatapere substation to the North Auckland Power Board's system, caused by lightning. There was lightning damage to transformers as far north as Waiharahara. There were telephone, power and road interruptions around the ranges from Oruru to Broadwood.
Cows were unable to be milked due to the power interruptions, and cream collections by dairy companies were delayed.
Telephone lines and power lines were cut all around the Mangonui County.
Flooding
There was serious flooding in the Dargaville-Kaikohe area. Several thousand acres were flooded.
There was shallow water over roads in various places. The Kaikohe-Dargaville road via Waipoua Forest was impassable due to a bridge at Waimamaku being destroyed.
Cattle, sheep and pigs were drowned.
Extensive flooding occurred throughout the Hokianga county. Large areas of farmland were under water on the 6th.
Flooding
at
Awanui
Water lay behind shops and houses at Awanui.
Lightning
at
Cape Brett
The Cape Brett peninsula was cut off from telephone communication on the 6th.
Heavy Rain
at
Dargaville
Dargaville recorded 216 mm (21.6 cm) of rain.
Lightning
In the Dargaville area, power poles were shattered by lightning and a main feeder cable was put out of action.
Lightning
at
Donnellys Crossing
Donnellys Crossing was isloated by telephone communication on the 6th after lightning cut the toll lines.
Landslide
at
Herekino Gorge
Two large slips in the Herekino Gorge blocked the road.
Flooding
at
Horeke
Due to the Mangataraire bridge being impassable, school children from the Horeke area had to be billeted at Okaihau on the night of the 5th.
Flooding
at
Kaeo
The Kaeo route was impassable due to water on the road at Kaeo until midday on the 6th.
Flooding
at
Kahikatoa
Te Tio Road was under water on the 6th.
Multi Hazard
at
Kaihu
The Opononi and forest route was blocked at Kaihu on the 6th.
Heavy Rain
at
Kaikohe
Kaikohe recorded 0.70 in (1.8 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 8am on the 5th.
Kaikohe recorded 7.37 in (18.7 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 8am on the 6th. This was the heaviest 24-hour fall for 21 years.
The rain stopped for about an hour on the morning of the 6th but began again around 10am.
Lightning
Telephone lines in the Kaikohe area were seriously affected by lightning. There were minor interruptions at Kaikohe.
Power was cut at Kaikohe for about an hour after lightning struck a transformer there.
Flooding
at
Kaingaroa
A bridge at Kaingaroa had its approaches washed out.
Heavy Rain
at
Kaitaia
Kaitaia recorded 0.31 in (0.8 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 8am on the 5th, having escaped most of the storm.
Flooding
Water surged over the highway at Larmer Road, just south of Kaitaia, on the 6th. A mile further down, the river was flowing bank-high along the road.
Flood waters spilled over the flats above Kaitaia and roared down through Tarawhaturoa Stream.
Heavy Rain
at
Kohukohu
Kohukohu experinced the heaviest rain in its 27 years of records.
Kohukohu recorded 6.02 in (15.3 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 6th.
Flooding
at
Mangakahia River
The Whangarei-Kaikohe highway via Mangakahia was blocked by flood waters at Fraser's Flat and Langham's Flat on the 6th.
There was reported to be 6 ft (1.8 m) of water at Langham's Flat.
Landslide
at
Mangamuka Gorge
There were six slips in the Mangamuka Gorge.
Lightning
at
Mangonui
A serious electrical storm was experienced in the Mangonui area on the 5th.
Heavy Rain
Mangonui received 3 1/2 in (8.9 cm) of rain on the 5th.
Flooding
at
Mangataraire
The Mangataraire Bridge was impassable on the night of the 5th.
Lightning
at
Mataraua
A severe electrical storm was experienced at Mataraua on the night of the 5th.
Multi Hazard
Telephone poles were washed out and transformers blew out. There was no power from 12pm on the 5th until 9am on the 6th.
Flooding
The Mataraua Valley was flooded, becoming a huge sea of water. Most of the homes in the area were completely surrounded.
The floods in the area were compared to those as far back as 1917. This flood was considered far worse than the severe floods of March 1936.
Stock losses in the area were heavy. Sheep, cattle and pigs were drowned.
The floods caused severe damage. Trees were swept away.
Fences and gates were swept out of the ground.
Many dairy herds were unable to be milked on the night of the 5th.
The main road to Mataraua was under water in places that had never been reached by flood waters.
One creek had risen more than 30 ft (9.1 m) by the night of the 5th.
Landslide
A large slip about 3 chains (60 m) long blocked the road to the school.
Heavy Rain
at
Maungakaramea
Maungakaramea recorded 0.95 in (2.4 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 8am or 9am on the 5th.
Heavy Rain
at
Maungatapere
Maungatapere recorded 2.94 in (7.5 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 2nd.
Maungatapere recorded 1.62 in (4.1 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to the morning of the 6th.
Landslide
at
Mohuiti
There was a slip on the main road near Mohuiti junction.
Flooding
at
Motukaraka
At the Hokianga Co-op Dairy Company, a storage dam overflowed and water flooded the building, causing serious damage.
Lightning
at
Okaihau
There were minor interruptions in telephone communication at Okaihau.
Landslide
A goods train was engulfed by a slip on the Kaikohe-Okaihau line, about 5 miles (8 km) from Okaihau, at about 7:15am on the 6th. Part of the engine left the rails and about 12 trucks broke away and crashed down a hill, some getting badly smashed.
The railway was left with 60 ft (18 m) of the line suspended in the air. It was expected to take a few days to clear the line.
Flooding
at
Omahuta
Omahuta Road was under water on the 6th.
Flooding
at
Omanaia
A man was feared drowned after he was swept away while crossing a flooded stream on horseback at Omanaia on the evening of the 5th.
Heavy Rain
at
Onerahi
Onerahi Aerodrome recorded 1.64 in (4.2 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 8am or 9am on the 5th.
Onerahi recorded 1.86 in (4.7 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to the morning of the 6th.
Landslide
at
Orawau
There were slips on the Kauapepe Road.
Lightning
at
Oruru
The Oruru area was hammered by lightning.
Landslide
at
Paponga
There were slips on the Paponga Road.
Hail
at
Parua Bay
A heavy hail storm occurred at Parua Bay at 8:30am on the 5th.
The hail storm lasted for 20 minutes.
Many of the hail stones were said to have a circumference larger than a halfcrown.
Hillsides in the area were turned white. A foot (30 cm) of ice lay in the watertables as late as 1pm.
Landslide
at
Puketona
The Kawakawa-Kaeo road was blocked by a slip between Puketona and the Kerikeri turnoff on the 5th.
Flooding
at
Rangiahua
Flooding at Rangiahua blocked the highway.
Lightning
at
Rawene
There were minor interruptions in telephone communication at Rawene.
Flooding
at
Ruakaka
There was water over the state highway in several places betwee Mata and Ruakaka on the morning of the 5th, but it was still passable.
Heavy Rain
at
Ruatangata West
Ruatangata recorded 1.50 in (3.8 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 6th.
Ruatangata recorded 6.31 in (16.0 cm) of rain in the five days from the 1st to the 5th.
Multi Hazard
at
Russell
Continuous thunder, lightning and rain occurred at Russell on the 5th.
Lightning
There were power failures at Russell.
Heavy Rain
Russell recorded 1.33 in (3.4 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 8am on the 5th.
Flooding
Russell Road was blocked by 8 in (20.3 cm) of water on the 6th.
Heavy Rain
at
Taheke
Taheke experienced two days of torrential rain.
Lightning
The rain was accompanied by thunder and lightning.
Flooding
The community was isolated by flooding on the 6th.
In some places the flooding was worse than in the big flood of 20 years before.
Some people were flooded out of their homes.
The flood waters were up to the decking of the Taheke concrete bridge on the night of the 5th and on the 6th.
Water was over the road to a depth of 5-6 ft (1.5-1.8 m), leaving it impassable on the 5th and the morning of the 6th. At least two small bridges were swept away.
A truck was stranded at the western end of the bridge, with water up to the steering wheel.
An implement shed near the bridge was swept down the river to the sea.
There was about 3 ft (90 cm) of water over the Taheke-Kaikohe road about 3 miles (4.8 km) from Taheke.
One farmer with eight children had to abandon his house on the afternoon of the 5th due to flood waters.
The farmer had moved some of his possessions to a high place that was not reached by the flood of 20 years prior, but the flood rose above that level on the 6th, leaving him with nothing.
Stock losses in the Taheke area were reported to be quite heavy.
A man and his rescuer were badly cut when they were swept against a wire fence. The man had to be rescued from atop a signpost on the Rawene side of the bridge after he tried to wade through the flood waters and was swept off his feet.
Multi Hazard
Milking was held up in the area due to power cuts and flooding.
Flooding
at
Taumarere
The was flooding on the Kawakawa-Paihia road at Taumarere on the 5th.
Flooding
at
Te Karae
A bridge on the main road at Te Karae was washed out.
Flooding
at
Titoki
The Wairoa River was running high on the Whangarei side of Titoki on the 5th.
Flooding
at
Waimamaku
Flood waters washed out a telephone pole at Waimamaku, isolating communication with the area.
A truss bridge at Waimamaku was destroyed.
Multi Hazard
at
Waiotehue
The Waiotehue Road was blocked on the 6th.
Heavy Rain
at
Waipu
Waipu recorded 2.16 in (5.5 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 8am or 9am on the 5th.
Lightning
Waipu experienced a thunderstorm, which was said to be the worst for several years.
Heavy Rain
at
Wairua Falls
Wairua Falls recorded 1.09 in (2.8 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 8am or 9am on the 5th.
Wairua Falls recorded 2.04 in (5.2 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 8am on the 6th.
Flooding
The flood water outside the power station was 2 ft (60 cm) above the level of the floor on the morning of the 6th. The water was rising at the rate of 2 in an hour (5 cm/hr)
Multi Hazard
at
Whangarei
The barometer read 30.04 at 8am on the 4th.
The barometer read 30.06 at 8am on the 5th.
Heavy Rain
Rain began to fall at Whangarei at about midnight on the 4th. Heavy rain continued into the night of the 5th and morning of the 6th, easing around midday.
Whangarei recorded 0.19 in (0.5 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 8am on the 4th.
Whangarei recorded 1.49 in (3.8 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 8am on the 5th.
Whangarei recorded 2.32 in (5.9 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 8am on the 6th.
Whangarei recorded 10.35 in (26.3 cm) of rain in the five days from the 1st to the 5th.
Lightning
About 350 telephones in the rural Whangarei area were cut on the 5th.
Flooding
Minor surface flooding occurred in Whangarei streets when gutters overflowed. There was water over Cairnfield Road near the King Street intersection and James Street by Victoria Bridge had water almost right over it.
Water entered several Whangarei shops on the 6th. Flood waters poured into the cellar of the Kamo Hotel on the 6th and beer kegs were floating around.
Flood water at the Ewings Road-Onerahi Road corner was 2 ft (60 cm) deep on the morning of the 6th.
A house in Kauika Road on the Maunu side of the bridge was surrounded by water.
References
- Major weather events in New Zealand, Floods and High Rainfall, Floods to 31st July 2006.
- Headline: Northland weather.
- The Northern Advocate, 4 October 1955.
- Headline: Northland weather.
- The Northern Advocate, 5 October 1955.
- Headline: Some flooding, power failures follow storm.
- The Northern Advocate, 5 October 1955.
- Headline: Blocked roads.
- The Northern Advocate, 6 October 1955.
- Headline: Conditions chaotic in Hokianga.
- The Northern Advocate, 6 October 1955.
- Headline: Engine, 12 trucks pushed from track.
- The Northern Advocate, 6 October 1955.
- Headline: Heavy hail at Parua Bay.
- The Northern Advocate, 6 October 1955.
- Headline: Heavy losses of stock in Mataraua Valley area.
- The Northern Advocate, 6 October 1955.
- Headline: Mangonui isolated.
- The Northern Advocate, 6 October 1955.
- Headline: Narrow escapes in deluge at Taheke.
- The Northern Advocate, 6 October 1955.
- Headline: Serious flooding in all parts of Northland: Horseman drowned, slip derails train.
- The Northern Advocate, 6 October 1955.