NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
October 2000 New Zealand Weather Bomb
(
2000-10-11
)
40 years
A "bomb" depression brought high winds, heavy, rain, flooding and high seas to parts of the South Island and North Island. Canterbury was the main affected area, with road closures, power cuts and much damage done to property. A man was drowned on the West Coast after his boat flipped in heavy seas.
New Zealand
Multi Hazard
at
New Zealand
Duration: 3 days - From the 11th to the 13th of October.
A rapidly deepening "bomb" depression generated in the Tasman Sea moved over the South Island. The deep low moved north-east overnight on the 12th/13th, hitting the lower North Island, and slowly moving towards the Chathams.
A vicious southerly storm pounded the South Island and the lower North Island.
There were widespread power cuts.
Many roads were closed.
South Island
Multi Hazard
at
South Island
Roads and buildings were damaged around the South Island.
Auckland
High Wind / Gust
at
Auckland
Auckland was lashed by winds gusting up to 100 km/hr on the 12th.
At least two boats broke from their moorings.
High Wind / Gust
at
Clevedon
A fallen tree closed Twilight Road in Clevedon.
Waikato
Snow / Ice
at
Taupo
Snow fell in the foothills around Taupo, and in rural farm areas west of Taupo.
Snow / Ice
at
Turangi
Snow fell in the foothills around Turangi.
Hawke's Bay
High Wind / Gust
at
Hawke's Bay
The wind caused crop damage in Hawke's Bay. Asparagus crops were damaged.
Manawatu-Wanganui
Snow / Ice
at
Desert Road
Heavy snowfalls closed the Desert Road for most of the day on the 12th.
Snow / Ice
at
Whakapapa Skifield
Up to 25 cm snow fell on the Whakapapa skifields.
Wellington
High Wind / Gust
at
Wellington
Winds of up to 50 km/hr struck Wellington on the 12th.
Winds brought down trees and power and telephone poles.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Cook Strait
Cook Strait ferries sailings were cancelled on the 12th. The 6pm and 9:30pm Interislander ferry sailings were cancelled.
Cook Strait recorded a peak wind speed of 161 km/hr on the 12th.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Eastbourne
Eastbourne Road was closed when debris was thrown onto it from the sea.
West Coast
Maritime / Coastal
at
Okuru River
A fisherman man was lost at sea after his boat flipped in heavy seas on the Okuru River bar just before 7:30am on the 12th. His body was found on the beach at Waita.
Canterbury
Multi Hazard
at
Canterbury
Banks Peninsula, the Kaikoura Coast and other parts of Canterbury felt the effects of the severe southerly storm on the 12th. Wind and rain lashed the region. The storm eased on the morning of the 13th.
The Plains and the coast had heavy rain and wind generally blustering to about 60 km/hr.
Damage was done to roads and bridges. Many highways in North Canterbury were hit by high winds, flooding and fallen trees. The weather made driving conditions difficult throughout the province.
One truck was blown over.
It was the worst storm in the Canterbury region for several years.
The storm forced nearly 20 Canterbury people to flee their homes.
Insurance Industry Payouts for the Canterbury Storms totalled $9,400,000 ($11,600,000 2008 dollars).
Flooding
Heavy rain caused widespread surface flooding.
High Wind / Gust
The wind brought down trees in parts of the region.
Falling trees and branches dragged down overhead powerlines across the city and into mid-Canterbury on the 12th. Power was cut to 9000 homes in the Canterbury region, from Banks Peninsula through Chirstchurch and North Canterbury to Kaikoura. Overhead powerlines were still being brought down overnight on the 12th/13th. The power cuts lasted until the 14th in some places.
Some experts claimed gusts of 170-180 km/hr screamed across the region.
Maritime / Coastal
Winds created big seas off the coast.
Landslide
A house was threatened by a slip.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Akaroa
A yacht was driven ashore at Akaroa.
Flooding
at
Banks Peninsula
Homes on Bank Peninsula were evacuated.
High Wind / Gust
Banks Peninsula had wind gusts of up to about 100 km/hr on the 11th.
Snow / Ice
Snow flurries swept Banks Peninsula on the 11th.
Heavy Rain
at
Christchurch
Christchurch city recorded 70 mm (7.0 cm) of rain in 48 hours.
Flooding
The Avon and Heathcote Rivers flooded.
Waist-deep flood waters closed Christchurch roads.
Floodwaters inundated the Redcliffs-Sumner area, and threatened homes.
Police and the Army helped evacuate about 30 people living near the Heathcote River in the Bexley area as high tide approached in late afternoon on the 12th.
There were reports of water damage in central city commercial buildings.
The Heathcote River breached its banks near Colombo Street, and flooded the road.
The flood waters were up to letterbox height on many properties.
High Wind / Gust
The wind brought down trees throughout the city and on the Port Hills. Hundreds of trees were felled. One car was destroyed.
6000 homes in pockets around the city and on Banks Peninsula were affected by power cuts on the 12th, including Lyttelton, Governors Bay, Cashmere, Sumner, Marshland and Spencerville. Some homes were still without power and water on the morning of the 13th.
Sumner recorded wind gusts of 120 km/hr.
Christchurch Airport recorded gusts of over 90 km/hr.
Buildings around the city suffered, with roofs being lifted and walls and fences being stove in.
Christchurch Botanic Gardens was closed for safety reasons.
Multi Hazard
The weather closed Linwood High School.
The Fire Service had received over 120 calls from 8am on the 12th.
Officials described the storm as a one-in 40-year event.
Multi Hazard
at
Diamond Harbour
The weather closed Diamond Harbour School.
High Wind / Gust
at
Kaikoura
Power cuts occurred at Kaikoura.
High Wind / Gust
at
Le Bons Bay
Le Bons Bay had a mean wind speed of 120 km/hr on the morning of the 12th.
Le Bons Bay recorded winds of 111 km/hr.
High Wind / Gust
at
Lyttelton
Westerly winds closed Lyttelton port at 5:30am on the 12th. A cruise ship was ordered to bypass the port.
The unfinished marina was devastated, and virtually all gone.
The winds tossed moored boats about and ripped some from their marina moorings. About 30 boats sank around Lyttelton and many more were damaged. The majority of Canterbury's keeler racing fleet was destroyed.
Lyttleton recorded a peak wind gust of 93 km/hr.
The Lyttelton Harboumaster said the storm was exceptional, and had not seen such severe conditions in 30 years of ship handling.
Multi Hazard
Lyttelton and its port were isolated on the 12th, with all access roads closed. Roads between Christchurch and the port were cut by felled trees and overhead lines and slips. The main over hill road links to Lyttelton were still cut on the morning of the 13th, with the only direct route through the tunnel.
The overall damage was expected to run into millions of dollars.
Maritime / Coastal
Wave were up to 6 m high.
Snow / Ice
at
Mount Hutt Skifield
Mt Hutt skifield received 20 cm of snow overnight on the 11th/12th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Rakaia Huts
Power cuts occurred in Rakaia Huts.
Southland
Multi Hazard
at
Southland
The Te Anau-Milford Road was closed on the 12th.
References
- Insurance Councils. The Cost of Weather Loses, Claims History (Updated 2004).
- Major weather events in New Zealand, Floods and High Rainfall, Floods to 31st July 2006.
- www.metservice, notable weather events.govt.nz.
- Meteorological Society of New Zealand (Inc.) Newsletter 83, December 2000.
- Headline: Evacuations in Christchurch as storm rages.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: IRN, 12 October 2000.
- Headline: Storm closes Lyttelton port.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: IRN and Christchurch Star, 12 October 2000.
- Headline: Big clean up after 'half-century' storm batters Christchurch.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: Christchurch Star and IRN, 13 October 2000.
- Headline: South licking wounds after brutal storm.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZ Herald and NZPA, 13 October 2000.
- Headline: Storm keeps ferries in port.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 13 October 2000, 10:20am.
- Headline: Calls for inquiry after marina disaster.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 16 October 2000.
October 2000 New Zealand Weather Bomb
(
2000-10-11
)
40 years
A "bomb" depression brought high winds, heavy, rain, flooding and high seas to parts of the South Island and North Island. Canterbury was the main affected area, with road closures, power cuts and much damage done to property. A man was drowned on the West Coast after his boat flipped in heavy seas.
New Zealand
Multi Hazard
at
New Zealand
Duration: 3 days - From the 11th to the 13th of October.
A rapidly deepening "bomb" depression generated in the Tasman Sea moved over the South Island. The deep low moved north-east overnight on the 12th/13th, hitting the lower North Island, and slowly moving towards the Chathams.
A vicious southerly storm pounded the South Island and the lower North Island.
There were widespread power cuts.
Many roads were closed.
South Island
Multi Hazard
at
South Island
Roads and buildings were damaged around the South Island.
Auckland
High Wind / Gust
at
Auckland
Auckland was lashed by winds gusting up to 100 km/hr on the 12th.
At least two boats broke from their moorings.
High Wind / Gust
at
Clevedon
A fallen tree closed Twilight Road in Clevedon.
Waikato
Snow / Ice
at
Taupo
Snow fell in the foothills around Taupo, and in rural farm areas west of Taupo.
Snow / Ice
at
Turangi
Snow fell in the foothills around Turangi.
Hawke's Bay
High Wind / Gust
at
Hawke's Bay
The wind caused crop damage in Hawke's Bay. Asparagus crops were damaged.
Manawatu-Wanganui
Snow / Ice
at
Desert Road
Heavy snowfalls closed the Desert Road for most of the day on the 12th.
Snow / Ice
at
Whakapapa Skifield
Up to 25 cm snow fell on the Whakapapa skifields.
Wellington
High Wind / Gust
at
Wellington
Winds of up to 50 km/hr struck Wellington on the 12th.
Winds brought down trees and power and telephone poles.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Cook Strait
Cook Strait ferries sailings were cancelled on the 12th. The 6pm and 9:30pm Interislander ferry sailings were cancelled.
Cook Strait recorded a peak wind speed of 161 km/hr on the 12th.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Eastbourne
Eastbourne Road was closed when debris was thrown onto it from the sea.
West Coast
Maritime / Coastal
at
Okuru River
A fisherman man was lost at sea after his boat flipped in heavy seas on the Okuru River bar just before 7:30am on the 12th. His body was found on the beach at Waita.
Canterbury
Multi Hazard
at
Canterbury
Banks Peninsula, the Kaikoura Coast and other parts of Canterbury felt the effects of the severe southerly storm on the 12th. Wind and rain lashed the region. The storm eased on the morning of the 13th.
The Plains and the coast had heavy rain and wind generally blustering to about 60 km/hr.
Damage was done to roads and bridges. Many highways in North Canterbury were hit by high winds, flooding and fallen trees. The weather made driving conditions difficult throughout the province.
One truck was blown over.
It was the worst storm in the Canterbury region for several years.
The storm forced nearly 20 Canterbury people to flee their homes.
Insurance Industry Payouts for the Canterbury Storms totalled $9,400,000 ($11,600,000 2008 dollars).
Flooding
Heavy rain caused widespread surface flooding.
High Wind / Gust
The wind brought down trees in parts of the region.
Falling trees and branches dragged down overhead powerlines across the city and into mid-Canterbury on the 12th. Power was cut to 9000 homes in the Canterbury region, from Banks Peninsula through Chirstchurch and North Canterbury to Kaikoura. Overhead powerlines were still being brought down overnight on the 12th/13th. The power cuts lasted until the 14th in some places.
Some experts claimed gusts of 170-180 km/hr screamed across the region.
Maritime / Coastal
Winds created big seas off the coast.
Landslide
A house was threatened by a slip.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Akaroa
A yacht was driven ashore at Akaroa.
Flooding
at
Banks Peninsula
Homes on Bank Peninsula were evacuated.
High Wind / Gust
Banks Peninsula had wind gusts of up to about 100 km/hr on the 11th.
Snow / Ice
Snow flurries swept Banks Peninsula on the 11th.
Heavy Rain
at
Christchurch
Christchurch city recorded 70 mm (7.0 cm) of rain in 48 hours.
Flooding
The Avon and Heathcote Rivers flooded.
Waist-deep flood waters closed Christchurch roads.
Floodwaters inundated the Redcliffs-Sumner area, and threatened homes.
Police and the Army helped evacuate about 30 people living near the Heathcote River in the Bexley area as high tide approached in late afternoon on the 12th.
There were reports of water damage in central city commercial buildings.
The Heathcote River breached its banks near Colombo Street, and flooded the road.
The flood waters were up to letterbox height on many properties.
High Wind / Gust
The wind brought down trees throughout the city and on the Port Hills. Hundreds of trees were felled. One car was destroyed.
6000 homes in pockets around the city and on Banks Peninsula were affected by power cuts on the 12th, including Lyttelton, Governors Bay, Cashmere, Sumner, Marshland and Spencerville. Some homes were still without power and water on the morning of the 13th.
Sumner recorded wind gusts of 120 km/hr.
Christchurch Airport recorded gusts of over 90 km/hr.
Buildings around the city suffered, with roofs being lifted and walls and fences being stove in.
Christchurch Botanic Gardens was closed for safety reasons.
Multi Hazard
The weather closed Linwood High School.
The Fire Service had received over 120 calls from 8am on the 12th.
Officials described the storm as a one-in 40-year event.
Multi Hazard
at
Diamond Harbour
The weather closed Diamond Harbour School.
High Wind / Gust
at
Kaikoura
Power cuts occurred at Kaikoura.
High Wind / Gust
at
Le Bons Bay
Le Bons Bay had a mean wind speed of 120 km/hr on the morning of the 12th.
Le Bons Bay recorded winds of 111 km/hr.
High Wind / Gust
at
Lyttelton
Westerly winds closed Lyttelton port at 5:30am on the 12th. A cruise ship was ordered to bypass the port.
The unfinished marina was devastated, and virtually all gone.
The winds tossed moored boats about and ripped some from their marina moorings. About 30 boats sank around Lyttelton and many more were damaged. The majority of Canterbury's keeler racing fleet was destroyed.
Lyttleton recorded a peak wind gust of 93 km/hr.
The Lyttelton Harboumaster said the storm was exceptional, and had not seen such severe conditions in 30 years of ship handling.
Multi Hazard
Lyttelton and its port were isolated on the 12th, with all access roads closed. Roads between Christchurch and the port were cut by felled trees and overhead lines and slips. The main over hill road links to Lyttelton were still cut on the morning of the 13th, with the only direct route through the tunnel.
The overall damage was expected to run into millions of dollars.
Maritime / Coastal
Wave were up to 6 m high.
Snow / Ice
at
Mount Hutt Skifield
Mt Hutt skifield received 20 cm of snow overnight on the 11th/12th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Rakaia Huts
Power cuts occurred in Rakaia Huts.
Southland
Multi Hazard
at
Southland
The Te Anau-Milford Road was closed on the 12th.
References
- Insurance Councils. The Cost of Weather Loses, Claims History (Updated 2004).
- Major weather events in New Zealand, Floods and High Rainfall, Floods to 31st July 2006.
- www.metservice, notable weather events.govt.nz.
- Meteorological Society of New Zealand (Inc.) Newsletter 83, December 2000.
- Headline: Evacuations in Christchurch as storm rages.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: IRN, 12 October 2000.
- Headline: Storm closes Lyttelton port.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: IRN and Christchurch Star, 12 October 2000.
- Headline: Big clean up after 'half-century' storm batters Christchurch.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: Christchurch Star and IRN, 13 October 2000.
- Headline: South licking wounds after brutal storm.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZ Herald and NZPA, 13 October 2000.
- Headline: Storm keeps ferries in port.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 13 October 2000, 10:20am.
- Headline: Calls for inquiry after marina disaster.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 16 October 2000.