10 years
A northwesterly storm and cold snap moved across southern and central districts from the 3rd to the 7th. The affected regions were Otago, Canterbury, Wellington and Tasman-Nelson. At Te Marua in Wellington, two women were killed when their car aquaplaned off the flooded road into the Hutt River.
On the 3rd, a trough progressed eastward over the Tasman Sea towards New Zealand and crossed the far south during the evening. A very strong north-west flow ahead of this trough was responsible for the gales over the southern and central districts. On the 4th, the trough slowed down due to development of a large deep low within the trough in the eastern Tasman Sea. It developed as a result of strong CVA west of the trough aided by the "lee low" effect in the southerly flow over the South Island which intensified rainfall over central New Zealand. On the 5th, the low formed a new centre east of the North Island and cold southerlies became established over the North Island. On the 6th, two lows moved away to the south-east and a disturbed southwesterly flow covered the country. A cold front within this flow crossed southern and central districts and moved off northern areas early on the 7th.
High intensity rainfall caused the most problems. The heaviest period of rainfall coincided with an "undercutting' southerly change. The cold air pushed underneath the milder, moist air hence adding to its speed of ascent.
The worst affected areas were Wellington and Horowhenua on the 4th. There was extensive flooding following heavy rain.
The El Nino flooding in 1997 cost the agricultural industry an estimated $1 billion.
Squally southerly cold snap spread north along the east coast, bringing snow to 300 m in Canterbury and closing the Desert Road in the North Island on the 6th and 7th.
Wellington was hit by a northwesterly storm and cold snap from the 3rd to the 7th.
Along State Highway 1, north of Wellington City, a stormwater drain burst on the Ngauranga Gorge sending torrents of water and boulders down the highway directly into the path of traffic. It left behind a 1 km stretch of debris. About eight cars were trapped and had to be towed free by tow trucks and fire engines.
Parts of Wellington, Hutt Valley and Wairarapa were isolated.
The Fire Service received more than 100 flood-related calls for help, including about 60 for flooding inside homes.
Greys Road linking Pauatahanui and Plimmerton was closed and extreme care was needed on Paekakariki Hill road.
At times the wind gust up to 110 km/hr.
Angle Knob part of the Tararuas recorded 200 mm (20.0 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Angle Knob part of the Tararuas recorded 450 mm (45.0 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
More than 220 mm (22.0 cm) of rain was recorded in the Hutt River catchment.
The downpour led to a 10-year flood.
Hutt River was in its fastest flow since 1981 and peaked at 1230 cumecs at 10pm on the 4th.
There was extensive surface flooding and a number of properties and streets were flooded.
The Hutt River level reached a 20 year peak resulting in severe erosion along its banks. A large section of the Manor Park Golf course was eroded away. The golf club lost its practice fairway to floodwaters which scoured out about 200 metres of riverbank. Erosion caused damage in other places along the river, such as Nash Street and Elbow Park in Upper Hutt.
More than 60 homes were flooded.
Over 100 people were evacuated from 30 houses and one motel which were threatened as the river flooded the road and surrounded houses. 50 people were evacuated fro the Pharazyn Street area early on the night of the 4th.
The Hutt motorway was closed.
Kahutara Road was closed.
Lower Hutt recorded 109 mm (10.9 cm) of rain in 27 hours.
Lower Hutt recorded 88 mm (8.8 cm) of rain in 4 hours.
Lower Hutt recorded 30 mm (3.0 cm) of rain in one hour.
Lower Hutt riverside areas were evacuated.
Ruamahanga River peaked at 4.4 m at Wardells Bridge on the 6th.
Ruamahanga River peaked 4.9 m at the Waihenga Bridge on the 6th.
Waihenga Bridge was closed.
The river flowed at 4.7 m for 22 hours.
Tararua Range recorded 323.5 mm (32.35 cm) of rain.
Taueru River peaked at 10.75 m at Weraiti.
A car with two passangers aquaplaned off the road into Hutt River at Te Marua and was swept away at 12.50pm on the 4th. The passengers, a 59 year old woman and a 22 year old woman, died.
The Hutt River at this point was moving at about 60 km/hr and rose about 8 cm in 30 minutes on the night of the 4th. It was too swift and too dirty for the police to enter to search for the passenger of the car.
Waiohine River peaked at 4.3 m at the gorge.
Northwesterly winds were gusting to 130 km/hr at Kelburn and an average windspeed of 46-56 km/hr on the 4th.
Roofing iron was lifted.
A Hilux collided with a truck and trailor unit seriously injuring the Hilux driver.
There was heavy rain and flooding on the 4th and 5th.
Major roads in and out of the city were blocked and many inner-city Wellington streets were closed. Palliser Road in Roseneath, Bayview Tce in Mt Victoria, Cecil Road in Wadestown and Highbury Road in Kelburn were all closed as council workers cleared slips.
Emergency services were stretched to the limit dealing with flooding, slips and accidents.
Gales were felt in the east South Island.
A bush fire which was fanned by gusty winds, threatened homes and caused evacuations overnight of the 3rd and 4th.
Gales felt in the east South Island
There was snow down to 300 m in Canterbury on the 6th and 7th.
Northwesterly winds reached average speeds of 111 km/hr with gusts of 133 km/hr at The Hermitage (Mt Cook).
Gales were felt in the east South Island, especially Otago.
10 years
A northwesterly storm and cold snap moved across southern and central districts from the 3rd to the 7th. The affected regions were Otago, Canterbury, Wellington and Tasman-Nelson. At Te Marua in Wellington, two women were killed when their car aquaplaned off the flooded road into the Hutt River.
On the 3rd, a trough progressed eastward over the Tasman Sea towards New Zealand and crossed the far south during the evening. A very strong north-west flow ahead of this trough was responsible for the gales over the southern and central districts. On the 4th, the trough slowed down due to development of a large deep low within the trough in the eastern Tasman Sea. It developed as a result of strong CVA west of the trough aided by the "lee low" effect in the southerly flow over the South Island which intensified rainfall over central New Zealand. On the 5th, the low formed a new centre east of the North Island and cold southerlies became established over the North Island. On the 6th, two lows moved away to the south-east and a disturbed southwesterly flow covered the country. A cold front within this flow crossed southern and central districts and moved off northern areas early on the 7th.
High intensity rainfall caused the most problems. The heaviest period of rainfall coincided with an "undercutting' southerly change. The cold air pushed underneath the milder, moist air hence adding to its speed of ascent.
The worst affected areas were Wellington and Horowhenua on the 4th. There was extensive flooding following heavy rain.
The El Nino flooding in 1997 cost the agricultural industry an estimated $1 billion.
Squally southerly cold snap spread north along the east coast, bringing snow to 300 m in Canterbury and closing the Desert Road in the North Island on the 6th and 7th.
Wellington was hit by a northwesterly storm and cold snap from the 3rd to the 7th.
Along State Highway 1, north of Wellington City, a stormwater drain burst on the Ngauranga Gorge sending torrents of water and boulders down the highway directly into the path of traffic. It left behind a 1 km stretch of debris. About eight cars were trapped and had to be towed free by tow trucks and fire engines.
Parts of Wellington, Hutt Valley and Wairarapa were isolated.
The Fire Service received more than 100 flood-related calls for help, including about 60 for flooding inside homes.
Greys Road linking Pauatahanui and Plimmerton was closed and extreme care was needed on Paekakariki Hill road.
At times the wind gust up to 110 km/hr.
Angle Knob part of the Tararuas recorded 200 mm (20.0 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Angle Knob part of the Tararuas recorded 450 mm (45.0 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
More than 220 mm (22.0 cm) of rain was recorded in the Hutt River catchment.
The downpour led to a 10-year flood.
Hutt River was in its fastest flow since 1981 and peaked at 1230 cumecs at 10pm on the 4th.
There was extensive surface flooding and a number of properties and streets were flooded.
The Hutt River level reached a 20 year peak resulting in severe erosion along its banks. A large section of the Manor Park Golf course was eroded away. The golf club lost its practice fairway to floodwaters which scoured out about 200 metres of riverbank. Erosion caused damage in other places along the river, such as Nash Street and Elbow Park in Upper Hutt.
More than 60 homes were flooded.
Over 100 people were evacuated from 30 houses and one motel which were threatened as the river flooded the road and surrounded houses. 50 people were evacuated fro the Pharazyn Street area early on the night of the 4th.
The Hutt motorway was closed.
Kahutara Road was closed.
Lower Hutt recorded 109 mm (10.9 cm) of rain in 27 hours.
Lower Hutt recorded 88 mm (8.8 cm) of rain in 4 hours.
Lower Hutt recorded 30 mm (3.0 cm) of rain in one hour.
Lower Hutt riverside areas were evacuated.
Ruamahanga River peaked at 4.4 m at Wardells Bridge on the 6th.
Ruamahanga River peaked 4.9 m at the Waihenga Bridge on the 6th.
Waihenga Bridge was closed.
The river flowed at 4.7 m for 22 hours.
Tararua Range recorded 323.5 mm (32.35 cm) of rain.
Taueru River peaked at 10.75 m at Weraiti.
A car with two passangers aquaplaned off the road into Hutt River at Te Marua and was swept away at 12.50pm on the 4th. The passengers, a 59 year old woman and a 22 year old woman, died.
The Hutt River at this point was moving at about 60 km/hr and rose about 8 cm in 30 minutes on the night of the 4th. It was too swift and too dirty for the police to enter to search for the passenger of the car.
Waiohine River peaked at 4.3 m at the gorge.
Northwesterly winds were gusting to 130 km/hr at Kelburn and an average windspeed of 46-56 km/hr on the 4th.
Roofing iron was lifted.
A Hilux collided with a truck and trailor unit seriously injuring the Hilux driver.
There was heavy rain and flooding on the 4th and 5th.
Major roads in and out of the city were blocked and many inner-city Wellington streets were closed. Palliser Road in Roseneath, Bayview Tce in Mt Victoria, Cecil Road in Wadestown and Highbury Road in Kelburn were all closed as council workers cleared slips.
Emergency services were stretched to the limit dealing with flooding, slips and accidents.
Gales were felt in the east South Island.
A bush fire which was fanned by gusty winds, threatened homes and caused evacuations overnight of the 3rd and 4th.
Gales felt in the east South Island
There was snow down to 300 m in Canterbury on the 6th and 7th.
Northwesterly winds reached average speeds of 111 km/hr with gusts of 133 km/hr at The Hermitage (Mt Cook).
Gales were felt in the east South Island, especially Otago.