NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
October 1956 Waikato and Gisborne Hail
(
1956-10-22
)
Hailstorms hit Tokomaru Bay in Gisborne and Waitoa in the Waikato, causing crop damage.
North Island
Multi Hazard
Duration: 1 day -
Waikato
Hail
at
Waitoa
There was a hailstorm in Waitoa on the 22nd.
Damage was caused to crops.
Gisborne
Hail
at
Tokomaru Bay
The worst hailstom in living memory hit Tokomaru Bay on the afternoon of the 22nd. An immense black cloud began to cover the sky shortly after midday and the deluge began at about 2pm.
Hail was still lying in drifts up to 1 ft (30.5 cm) deep the next morning.
Initially the hail was of normal size, but after about 30 minutes the hail stones increased to from 3/4 to 1 in (1.9- 2.5 cm) thick.
Hail fell for an hour.
The hail storm moved down the Mangahuini Valley, in a belt about 1 mile (1.6 km) wide.
Gardens were damaged and tree bark was damaged.
Home-grown potato crops were completely wiped out and fruit trees were stripped of all their foliage. Virtually all crops, trees and flowers in the hail belt were either destroyed or defoliated.
Heavy Rain
The hail was followed by heavy rain for an hour.
Guttering collpased or was blocked by hail, and some homes and businesses were partially flooded by the heavy rain which followed. Two homes were completely flooded by rainwater and stock was damaged in the premises of one mercantile firm.
Flooding
A flash flood swept down the Mangahuini River.
Two protective groynes, each weighing several tons, were shifted downstream by about 100 yards (91 m).
References
- Catalogue of Severe Hail Storms, 1924-1986 and 1991-2006, Source: Neale.
- Headline: Worst within memory: Wide damage as hail lashes Tokomaru Bay.
- The Gisborne Herald, 23 October 1956.
October 1956 Waikato and Gisborne Hail
(
1956-10-22
)
Hailstorms hit Tokomaru Bay in Gisborne and Waitoa in the Waikato, causing crop damage.
North Island
Multi Hazard
Duration: 1 day -
Waikato
Hail
at
Waitoa
There was a hailstorm in Waitoa on the 22nd.
Damage was caused to crops.
Gisborne
Hail
at
Tokomaru Bay
The worst hailstom in living memory hit Tokomaru Bay on the afternoon of the 22nd. An immense black cloud began to cover the sky shortly after midday and the deluge began at about 2pm.
Hail was still lying in drifts up to 1 ft (30.5 cm) deep the next morning.
Initially the hail was of normal size, but after about 30 minutes the hail stones increased to from 3/4 to 1 in (1.9- 2.5 cm) thick.
Hail fell for an hour.
The hail storm moved down the Mangahuini Valley, in a belt about 1 mile (1.6 km) wide.
Gardens were damaged and tree bark was damaged.
Home-grown potato crops were completely wiped out and fruit trees were stripped of all their foliage. Virtually all crops, trees and flowers in the hail belt were either destroyed or defoliated.
Heavy Rain
The hail was followed by heavy rain for an hour.
Guttering collpased or was blocked by hail, and some homes and businesses were partially flooded by the heavy rain which followed. Two homes were completely flooded by rainwater and stock was damaged in the premises of one mercantile firm.
Flooding
A flash flood swept down the Mangahuini River.
Two protective groynes, each weighing several tons, were shifted downstream by about 100 yards (91 m).
References
- Catalogue of Severe Hail Storms, 1924-1986 and 1991-2006, Source: Neale.
- Headline: Worst within memory: Wide damage as hail lashes Tokomaru Bay.
- The Gisborne Herald, 23 October 1956.