NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
October 2006 Auckland and Wellington Storm
(
2006-10-01
)
Thunderstorms brought lightning, heavy rain, flooding and slips to Auckland, disrupting transport and causing property damage. A tornado caaused damage in Ranui. There was some flooding in the Waikato and snow in the Central North Island. In Wellington, high southerly winds, high seas, heavy rain and flooding disrupted transport.
North Island
Multi Hazard
at
North Island
Duration: 6 days - From the 1st to the 6th of October.
From the 1st to the 6th there was an unsettled period, with a deep low crossing New Zealand. Warm, unstable air scattered thunderstorms to northern parts of the North Island. On the 1st, a low in the Tasman Sea pushed even more active disturbance. On the 2nd, the low remained slow-moving to the west of the North Island, bringing more thunderstroms and downpours in the northern areas. On the 4th, southerlies rose to severe gales about Cook Strait and Wellington.
Snow / Ice
Snow lowered to 500m in the central and eastern North Island on the 5th.
Auckland
Multi Hazard
at
Auckland
Auckland was the worst affected, with thunderstorms resulting in heavy downpours and localised flash flooding.
The Ranui tornado heralded a severe electric storm that caused flooding, landslips and damage throughout West Auckland, North Shore and the central city.
Auckland fire fighters were called to about 200 incidents from the afternoon of the 1st. The Fire Service received 35-40 calls in one hour after about 4pm on the 1st, and around 170 calls between the afternoon of the 1st and the morning of the 2nd. By 6pm on the 2nd, firefighters had attended nearly 40 weather-related incidents.
A handful of car accidents were probably related to the weather.
Railway lines were impassable, even to emergency services, on the 2nd.
Lightning
An electrical storm occurred across West Auckland on the 1st.
Flooding
Some houses on the North Shore were flooded.
In West Auckland, swollen streams flooded houses, basements and buildings.
Parts of the Northern Motorway and State Highway 17 around Dairy Flat and Albany were closed by flooding at one stage on the night of the 1st. The motorway was closed northbound from the Esmonde Road exit in Takapuna. Flooding occurred on the Kaipara Coast Highway.
Heavy Rain
Up to 40 or 50 mm (4.0-5.0 cm) of rain might have fallen in one hour in areas that were heavily flooded, such as west Auckland.
As much as 30 mm (3.0 cm) of rain fell in an hour in parts of Auckland on the 2nd.
Auckland received more than 80 mm (8.0 cm) of rain between the afternoon of the 1st and the morning of the 2nd.
High Wind / Gust
Arcing powerlines caused small fires in West Auckland.
Heavy winds uprooted trees and sent an iron roof flying into a neighbouring property in West Auckland.
Landslide
There were large slips around the Kaipara Hills.
Flooding
at
Auckland City
A foodcourt in lower Queen Streeet was flooded.
People were evacuated from the Civic Theatre after sewage flooded its lower level.
Roads around the city were flooded on the 2nd.
Heavy Rain
at
Auckland International Airport
Auckland Airport recorded 45 mm (4.5 cm) of rain in the six hours to 8pm on the 1st.
Auckland Airport recorded 11 mm (1.1 cm) of rain in 10 minutes on the 1st.
Lightning
Both international and domestic flights were affected by the wild electrical storm above Auckland Airport.
Landslide
at
Beach Haven
Part of a cliff above Larkings Landing in Beach Haven collapsed on the night of the 1st. A stone wall and barbecue area on Larking's Landing collapsed in the landslip.
A family living at the top of the slip evacuated on the advice of firefighters but were able to return later.
Heavy Rain
at
Birkenhead
Birkenhead Point recorded 30 mm (3.0 cm) of rain in one hour from 4pm to 5pm on the 1st.
Landslide
A slip on Awanui Streeet at Little Shoal Bay tore away land beneath a million-dollar house on the night of the 2nd, after a day of torrential rain. The water main and sewage pipes on the proprerty were left exposed. The slip also threatened two other properties. An illegal stormwater drain discharging over the cliff may have contributed to the landslip.
The family of the worst affected house were evacuated on the night of the 2nd. Another family were told by police to leave their house as a precaution but were allowed back at 10pm.
Flooding
at
Lower Nihotupu Reservoir
The Lower Nihotupu Dam spilled into Big Muddy Creek in the largest overflow in 10 years.
Landslide
at
Dome Valley
There was a large slip around Wayby Station Road in the Dome Valley area.
Multi Hazard
at
Henderson
A thunderstorm on the afternoon of the 1st brought wind and flooding damage to Henderson.
Flooding
The Lower Nihotupu Dam spilled into Big Muddy Creek in the largest overflow in 10 years.
Heavy Rain
at
Mangere
Mangere recorded 87 mm (8.7 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Mangere recorded 29 mm (2.9 cm) of rain in one hour.
Tornado
at
Ranui
A small tornado struck Martin Jugum Lane in Ranui at around 3:30pm on the 1st.
The tornado was a result of a combination of daytime heating, warm, moist and unstable air brought over by the Tasman low and a trough moving down Auckland.
The tornado left a trail of damage at least 100 m long.
House roofs were damaged and outdoor furniture was thrown about. Large sections of fences were ripped out of the ground and blown up to 40 m through the air.
Landslide
at
Swanson
Landslips were reported in Swanson.
Landslide
at
Waitarua
Landslips were reported on Scenic Drive.
Flooding
at
West Harbour
On the morning of the 2nd, surface flooding was particularly deep at end of the North-Western Motorway at Westgate, where State Highway 16 and State Highway 18 meet.
Waikato
Flooding
at
Hamilton
Hamilton experienced surface flooding.
Manawatu-Wanganui
Snow / Ice
at
Manawatu-Wanganui
High country farmers reported lambing losses due to the combination of strong, icy winds and snow.
Snow / Ice
at
Desert Road
The Desert Road (State Highway 1) was closed on the 5th.
Wellington
Heavy Rain
at
Wellington
Heavy rain fell in Wellington and Wairarapa.
Flooding
Floods were experienced in the Wairarapa on the 3rd.
High Wind / Gust
Southerly winds disrupted transport in Wellington on the 4th. Trains were cancelled.
Maritime / Coastal
Other roads and rail lines were disrupted where heavy seas washed onto them.
Flooding
at
Carterton
Flooding occurred in Carterton.
Flooding
at
Masterton
There was extensive surface flooding throughout the Masterton area.
Heavy Rain
Rainfall totalled 65 mm (6.5 cm) of rain in 90 minutes on the 3rd.
Flooding
at
Mauriceville
An approach to a rail bridge at Mauriceville was washed out.
High Wind / Gust
at
Wellington Harbour
Interislander ferry services were disrupted on the 4th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Wellington International Airport
Flights at Wellington airport were disrupted on the 4th.
References
- Meteorological Society of New Zealand (Inc.). Newsletter 108, March 2007. Notable Weather for Spring 2006, Ben Tichborne and Trevor McGavin.
- Headline: Weather Highlights of 2006, 27/12/2006 www.scoop.co.nz.
- Meteorological Society of New Zealand (Inc.). Newsletter 108, March 2007.
- Natural Hazards 2006. Hazards summary, Rainfall, floods and droughts.
- Headline: Major storm hits Auckland.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 1 October 2006.
- Headline: Tasman low helps usher in tornado.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZ Herald and NZPA, 2 October 2006.
- Headline: Wild weather with more to come.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZ Herald, Newstalk ZB and NZPA, 2 October 2006.
- Headline: Family evacuated as slips threaten $1 million houses.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 3 October 2006.
- Headline: Unauthorised drainage may be partly to blame for landslip.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZ Herald and NZPA, 4 October 2006.
October 2006 Auckland and Wellington Storm
(
2006-10-01
)
Thunderstorms brought lightning, heavy rain, flooding and slips to Auckland, disrupting transport and causing property damage. A tornado caaused damage in Ranui. There was some flooding in the Waikato and snow in the Central North Island. In Wellington, high southerly winds, high seas, heavy rain and flooding disrupted transport.
North Island
Multi Hazard
at
North Island
Duration: 6 days - From the 1st to the 6th of October.
From the 1st to the 6th there was an unsettled period, with a deep low crossing New Zealand. Warm, unstable air scattered thunderstorms to northern parts of the North Island. On the 1st, a low in the Tasman Sea pushed even more active disturbance. On the 2nd, the low remained slow-moving to the west of the North Island, bringing more thunderstroms and downpours in the northern areas. On the 4th, southerlies rose to severe gales about Cook Strait and Wellington.
Snow / Ice
Snow lowered to 500m in the central and eastern North Island on the 5th.
Auckland
Multi Hazard
at
Auckland
Auckland was the worst affected, with thunderstorms resulting in heavy downpours and localised flash flooding.
The Ranui tornado heralded a severe electric storm that caused flooding, landslips and damage throughout West Auckland, North Shore and the central city.
Auckland fire fighters were called to about 200 incidents from the afternoon of the 1st. The Fire Service received 35-40 calls in one hour after about 4pm on the 1st, and around 170 calls between the afternoon of the 1st and the morning of the 2nd. By 6pm on the 2nd, firefighters had attended nearly 40 weather-related incidents.
A handful of car accidents were probably related to the weather.
Railway lines were impassable, even to emergency services, on the 2nd.
Lightning
An electrical storm occurred across West Auckland on the 1st.
Flooding
Some houses on the North Shore were flooded.
In West Auckland, swollen streams flooded houses, basements and buildings.
Parts of the Northern Motorway and State Highway 17 around Dairy Flat and Albany were closed by flooding at one stage on the night of the 1st. The motorway was closed northbound from the Esmonde Road exit in Takapuna. Flooding occurred on the Kaipara Coast Highway.
Heavy Rain
Up to 40 or 50 mm (4.0-5.0 cm) of rain might have fallen in one hour in areas that were heavily flooded, such as west Auckland.
As much as 30 mm (3.0 cm) of rain fell in an hour in parts of Auckland on the 2nd.
Auckland received more than 80 mm (8.0 cm) of rain between the afternoon of the 1st and the morning of the 2nd.
High Wind / Gust
Arcing powerlines caused small fires in West Auckland.
Heavy winds uprooted trees and sent an iron roof flying into a neighbouring property in West Auckland.
Landslide
There were large slips around the Kaipara Hills.
Flooding
at
Auckland City
A foodcourt in lower Queen Streeet was flooded.
People were evacuated from the Civic Theatre after sewage flooded its lower level.
Roads around the city were flooded on the 2nd.
Heavy Rain
at
Auckland International Airport
Auckland Airport recorded 45 mm (4.5 cm) of rain in the six hours to 8pm on the 1st.
Auckland Airport recorded 11 mm (1.1 cm) of rain in 10 minutes on the 1st.
Lightning
Both international and domestic flights were affected by the wild electrical storm above Auckland Airport.
Landslide
at
Beach Haven
Part of a cliff above Larkings Landing in Beach Haven collapsed on the night of the 1st. A stone wall and barbecue area on Larking's Landing collapsed in the landslip.
A family living at the top of the slip evacuated on the advice of firefighters but were able to return later.
Heavy Rain
at
Birkenhead
Birkenhead Point recorded 30 mm (3.0 cm) of rain in one hour from 4pm to 5pm on the 1st.
Landslide
A slip on Awanui Streeet at Little Shoal Bay tore away land beneath a million-dollar house on the night of the 2nd, after a day of torrential rain. The water main and sewage pipes on the proprerty were left exposed. The slip also threatened two other properties. An illegal stormwater drain discharging over the cliff may have contributed to the landslip.
The family of the worst affected house were evacuated on the night of the 2nd. Another family were told by police to leave their house as a precaution but were allowed back at 10pm.
Flooding
at
Lower Nihotupu Reservoir
The Lower Nihotupu Dam spilled into Big Muddy Creek in the largest overflow in 10 years.
Landslide
at
Dome Valley
There was a large slip around Wayby Station Road in the Dome Valley area.
Multi Hazard
at
Henderson
A thunderstorm on the afternoon of the 1st brought wind and flooding damage to Henderson.
Flooding
The Lower Nihotupu Dam spilled into Big Muddy Creek in the largest overflow in 10 years.
Heavy Rain
at
Mangere
Mangere recorded 87 mm (8.7 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
Mangere recorded 29 mm (2.9 cm) of rain in one hour.
Tornado
at
Ranui
A small tornado struck Martin Jugum Lane in Ranui at around 3:30pm on the 1st.
The tornado was a result of a combination of daytime heating, warm, moist and unstable air brought over by the Tasman low and a trough moving down Auckland.
The tornado left a trail of damage at least 100 m long.
House roofs were damaged and outdoor furniture was thrown about. Large sections of fences were ripped out of the ground and blown up to 40 m through the air.
Landslide
at
Swanson
Landslips were reported in Swanson.
Landslide
at
Waitarua
Landslips were reported on Scenic Drive.
Flooding
at
West Harbour
On the morning of the 2nd, surface flooding was particularly deep at end of the North-Western Motorway at Westgate, where State Highway 16 and State Highway 18 meet.
Waikato
Flooding
at
Hamilton
Hamilton experienced surface flooding.
Manawatu-Wanganui
Snow / Ice
at
Manawatu-Wanganui
High country farmers reported lambing losses due to the combination of strong, icy winds and snow.
Snow / Ice
at
Desert Road
The Desert Road (State Highway 1) was closed on the 5th.
Wellington
Heavy Rain
at
Wellington
Heavy rain fell in Wellington and Wairarapa.
Flooding
Floods were experienced in the Wairarapa on the 3rd.
High Wind / Gust
Southerly winds disrupted transport in Wellington on the 4th. Trains were cancelled.
Maritime / Coastal
Other roads and rail lines were disrupted where heavy seas washed onto them.
Flooding
at
Carterton
Flooding occurred in Carterton.
Flooding
at
Masterton
There was extensive surface flooding throughout the Masterton area.
Heavy Rain
Rainfall totalled 65 mm (6.5 cm) of rain in 90 minutes on the 3rd.
Flooding
at
Mauriceville
An approach to a rail bridge at Mauriceville was washed out.
High Wind / Gust
at
Wellington Harbour
Interislander ferry services were disrupted on the 4th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Wellington International Airport
Flights at Wellington airport were disrupted on the 4th.
References
- Meteorological Society of New Zealand (Inc.). Newsletter 108, March 2007. Notable Weather for Spring 2006, Ben Tichborne and Trevor McGavin.
- Headline: Weather Highlights of 2006, 27/12/2006 www.scoop.co.nz.
- Meteorological Society of New Zealand (Inc.). Newsletter 108, March 2007.
- Natural Hazards 2006. Hazards summary, Rainfall, floods and droughts.
- Headline: Major storm hits Auckland.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 1 October 2006.
- Headline: Tasman low helps usher in tornado.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZ Herald and NZPA, 2 October 2006.
- Headline: Wild weather with more to come.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZ Herald, Newstalk ZB and NZPA, 2 October 2006.
- Headline: Family evacuated as slips threaten $1 million houses.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 3 October 2006.
- Headline: Unauthorised drainage may be partly to blame for landslip.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZ Herald and NZPA, 4 October 2006.