NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
October 2008 Canterbury High Winds and Manawatu Flooding
(
2008-10-04
)
Severe northwest winds were experienced in Canterbury, Marlborough and the lower North Island on the 4th. Heavy rain and some flooding occurred in Manawatu-Wanganui on the 5th and 6th.
New Zealand
Multi Hazard
at
New Zealand
Duration: 3 days - High winds occurred on the 4th and heavy rain and flooding occurred on the 5th and 6th.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 11:07 am 03-Oct-2008: Heavy rain for the Westland ranges, Canterbury headwaters, and Tararua Range. Severe northwesterlies about Wellington, Wairarapa and inland Canterbury. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: the Westland ranges from Otira southwards, the Canterbury headwaters from the Waimakariri River southwards, and the Tararua Range; and STRONG WIND WARNING for: inland Canterbury, Wellington and Wairarapa.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:48 pm 03-Oct-2008: Heavy rain for the Westland ranges, Canterbury headwaters, and Tararua Range. Severe northwesterlies about Wellington, Wairarapa, Marlborough and inland Canterbury. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: the Westland ranges from Otira southwards, the Canterbury headwaters from the Waimakariri River southwards, and the Tararua Range; and STRONG WIND WARNING for: inland Canterbury, Marlborough, Wellington and Wairarapa.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:49 am 04-Oct-2008: Heavy rain for the Westland ranges, Canterbury headwaters easing by evening. Significant rain to come for the Tararua Ranges, Mt Taranaki and the hilly country from inland Taranaki across to Mt Ruapehu. Severe northwesterlies about Wellington, Wairarapa, Marlborough and inland Canterbury today. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: the Westland ranges from Otira southwards, the Canterbury headwaters from the Waimakariri River southwards, the Tararua Ranges, Mt Taranaki, the hilly country from inland Taranaki across to Mt Ruapehu, including Taumarunui, Waitomo, Taihape and Taupo; and STRONG WIND WARNING for: inland Canterbury, Marlborough, Wellington and Wairarapa.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 9:10 pm 04-Oct-2008: Front which brought heavy rain on the West Coast expected to affect Tararua Ranges and hilly country from Mt Taranaki to the Central North Island. Damaging northwest gales from inland Canterbury to Wairarapa and parts of Wellington are easing. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: Tararua Ranges, Mt Taranaki and the hilly country extending inland to Mt Ruapehu, including Waitomo, Taumarunui and the headwaters of the Whanganui River; and STRONG WIND WARNING for: higher hills of Wellington and Wairarapa including the summit of the Rimutaka Road. WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE: Heavy Rain Warnings lifted for Westland ranges from Otira southwards and Canterbury headwaters from the Waimakariri River southwards; and Strong Wind Warnings lifted for inland Canterbury and Marlborough.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:30 am 05-Oct-2008: Heavy rain about the Tararua Ranges easing this afternoon, but further heavy falls expected about the Central North Island hills and ranges until early Monday. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: Tararua Ranges, Mt Taranaki and the hilly country extending inland from Taranaki across to Mt Ruapehu, including Waitomo, Taumarunui and the headwaters of the Whanganui River. WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE: Strong Wind Warnings lifted for higher hills of Wellington and Wairarapa including the summit of the Rimutaka Road.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:23 pm 05-Oct-2008: Heavy rain at times about the Central North Island hill country expected to ease overnight Saturday. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: hilly country from inland Taranaki to Mt Ruapehu, including Waitomo, Taumarunui and the headwaters of the Whanganui River. WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE: Heavy Rain Warnings lifted for Tararua Ranges and Mt Taranaki.
High Wind / Gust
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 7:28 am 06-Oct-2008: Rain has eased over the Central North Island. WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE: Heavy Rain Warnings lifted for hilly country from inland Taranaki to Mt Ruapehu, including Waitomo, Taumarunui and the headwaters of the Whanganui River.
Severe northwest gales swept over the Wairarapa, Wellington, Marlborough and Canterbury on the 4th. High winds ripped down trees, tore lines from electric power poles and posed hazards for drivers.
On the 4th, fronts crossed New Zealand, preceded by a warm northwesterley flow. On the 5th, the remains of the frontal system stalled over the central North Island, while a weak ridge spread onto the South Island. On the 6th, the ridge over the South Island dispersed as an active trough developed over the Tasman Sea, joining with the remains of the frontal system over the North Island. A north-westerly flow again developed over the whole country.
Manawatu-Wanganui
Multi Hazard
at
Manawatu-Wanganui
Heavy rain and some flooding occurred in Manawatu-Wanganui on the 5th and 6th.
Heavy Rain
Heavy rains caused trees to fall on to overhead lines on the 5th, leaving about 5500 Powerco customers in Feilding, Kairanga, Linton and Tiritea without power. Supply was restored to about 4800 customers within 15 minutes, but the remaining 400 had no power until 4pm.
Heavy Rain
at
Feilding
At 11.55am on the 5th, trees came down on overhead lines near Feilding, cutting supply to about 300 people until 4pm.
Flooding
at
Linton
A power cut at about 12.45pm came after four power poles were washed into a flooding Manawatu River near Linton. This caused power to be cut to about 5200 people.
In Hewitts Road, near Linton, the swollen Kahuterawa Stream scoured away a bank, sweeping a tree, a small power pylon and almost half the road way into the water on Sunday. The pylon and tree were still in the stream on the 8th.
Flooding
at
Opiki
Flooding closed a section of SH56 between Opiki and Tiakatahuna on the 6th. Heavy rain and the opening of the Moutoa floodgates saw the road closed for about 12 hours due to surface flooding.
Wellington
High Wind / Gust
at
Rimutaka Hill
A wind gust of 158 km/hr was reported on the Rimutakas north of Wellington on the 4th - the strongest wind of the day.
Canterbury
High Wind / Gust
at
Canterbury
In Cantebrury, roofs were blown off buildings, power lines snapped and trees were ripped apart.
Gale-force norwesters fanned two scrubfires in Canterbury on the 4th. Both fires started from agricultural burnoffs.
The MetService recorded a maximum wind gust of 130 km/hr in Canterbury.
Around 2400 Orion customers in central Canterbury lost power for up to 10 hours, while 1200 experienced brief interruptions.
High Wind / Gust
at
Ashburton
Firefighters attended a fire caused by a fallen power line on Swamp Road.
High Wind / Gust
at
Leeston
Power lines and trees were across the road on Smith Road and Beachcroft Road in Leeston.
High Wind / Gust
at
Levels
The wind reignited a fire at the Timaru Golf Club at Levels on the 4th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Little Rakaia
A bush fire at Little Rakaia was first reported at 8.28am on the 4th and came within 500m of the township during the afternoon. At one point it had burned at least 25ha of scrub. It was contained by nightfall.
High Wind / Gust
at
Little River
A bonfire at Little River got out of control at 2:30pm on the 4th, burning in scrub on extremely steep hillsides above the town. It was under control three hours later. A resident lost several thousand pine trees or around a fifth of his 20ha pine plantation.
High Wind / Gust
at
Methven
Wind gusts blew over a campervan on Arundel Rakaia Gorge Road, near Pudding Hill, at about 7.30am on the 4th. A woman on board suffered a head cut when the oven fell on her, and was taken to a local medical centre.
About 200 metres further along Arundel Rakaia Gorge Road from the campervan, a power pole was left hanging at a 45 degree angle after the wood splintered up the pole, causing it to break.
Winds gusted up to 120 km/hr.
High Wind / Gust
at
Mount Cook
Gusts up to 115 km/hr were recorded at Mt Cook on the 4th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Mount Somers
From 6am to 4pm gusts of over 120 km/hr were observed around the Mount Somers area.
High Wind / Gust
at
Porters Pass
A truck on Porters Pass (SH73) lost a load of iron sheets.
High Wind / Gust
at
Richard Pearse Airport
Gusts up to 80 km/hr were recorded at Richard Pearse Airport on the 4th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Springfield
Trees and power lines were bought down on SH73 west of Springfield. In Springfield, power lines were down across the road on Pocock Road and trees were down on Kowai Road.
High Wind / Gust
at
Staveley
Staveley was one of the hardest hit areas in Mid Canterbury. Farmers had to deal with trees knocked down both on their properties and on roads.
High Wind / Gust
at
Timaru
Strong winds were experienced in Timaru on the 4th.
The winds damaged trees and blew over election signs. Loose iron was blown around the Timaru Boys High School tennis courts.
The winds ripped the border off the Pak 'n Save sign in at about 1pm. Part of the sign landed on the bonnet of a nearby car, causing some damage.
Morgans Road was closed for a time on the afternoon of the 4th while an unstable tree was removed after having broken at its base.
Power was cut to a number of Timaru homes during the afternoon.
References
- Headline: High winds hit Mid Canterbury.
- www.ashburtonguardian.co.nz, 6 October 2008.
- Meteorological Society of New Zealand (Inc.). (2008). Climate summary for spring 2008. Newsletter 115, December 2008. 12-22
- Headline: Scrub fire threatens town.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 4 October 2008, 2:22pm.
- Headline: Canterbury scrub fire fears allayed.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 4 Ocotober 2008.
- Headline: High wind warning for Canterbury.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 4 Ocotober 2008.
- Headline: Weather causes power havoc.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Manawatu Standard, 7 Ocotober 2008.
- Headline: Waters sweep the region.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Manawatu Standard, 9 Ocotober 2008.
- Headline: Scrub fires contained in Canterbury.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press and NZPA, 4 Ocotober 2008.
- Headline: Another holiday from hell puts wind up family.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Sunday Star Times, 5 Ocotober 2008.
- Headline: Region takes pounding.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Timaru Herald, 5 Ocotober 2008, 11:50pm.
- MetService Email Lists
October 2008 Canterbury High Winds and Manawatu Flooding
(
2008-10-04
)
Severe northwest winds were experienced in Canterbury, Marlborough and the lower North Island on the 4th. Heavy rain and some flooding occurred in Manawatu-Wanganui on the 5th and 6th.
New Zealand
Multi Hazard
at
New Zealand
Duration: 3 days - High winds occurred on the 4th and heavy rain and flooding occurred on the 5th and 6th.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 11:07 am 03-Oct-2008: Heavy rain for the Westland ranges, Canterbury headwaters, and Tararua Range. Severe northwesterlies about Wellington, Wairarapa and inland Canterbury. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: the Westland ranges from Otira southwards, the Canterbury headwaters from the Waimakariri River southwards, and the Tararua Range; and STRONG WIND WARNING for: inland Canterbury, Wellington and Wairarapa.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:48 pm 03-Oct-2008: Heavy rain for the Westland ranges, Canterbury headwaters, and Tararua Range. Severe northwesterlies about Wellington, Wairarapa, Marlborough and inland Canterbury. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: the Westland ranges from Otira southwards, the Canterbury headwaters from the Waimakariri River southwards, and the Tararua Range; and STRONG WIND WARNING for: inland Canterbury, Marlborough, Wellington and Wairarapa.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:49 am 04-Oct-2008: Heavy rain for the Westland ranges, Canterbury headwaters easing by evening. Significant rain to come for the Tararua Ranges, Mt Taranaki and the hilly country from inland Taranaki across to Mt Ruapehu. Severe northwesterlies about Wellington, Wairarapa, Marlborough and inland Canterbury today. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: the Westland ranges from Otira southwards, the Canterbury headwaters from the Waimakariri River southwards, the Tararua Ranges, Mt Taranaki, the hilly country from inland Taranaki across to Mt Ruapehu, including Taumarunui, Waitomo, Taihape and Taupo; and STRONG WIND WARNING for: inland Canterbury, Marlborough, Wellington and Wairarapa.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 9:10 pm 04-Oct-2008: Front which brought heavy rain on the West Coast expected to affect Tararua Ranges and hilly country from Mt Taranaki to the Central North Island. Damaging northwest gales from inland Canterbury to Wairarapa and parts of Wellington are easing. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: Tararua Ranges, Mt Taranaki and the hilly country extending inland to Mt Ruapehu, including Waitomo, Taumarunui and the headwaters of the Whanganui River; and STRONG WIND WARNING for: higher hills of Wellington and Wairarapa including the summit of the Rimutaka Road. WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE: Heavy Rain Warnings lifted for Westland ranges from Otira southwards and Canterbury headwaters from the Waimakariri River southwards; and Strong Wind Warnings lifted for inland Canterbury and Marlborough.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:30 am 05-Oct-2008: Heavy rain about the Tararua Ranges easing this afternoon, but further heavy falls expected about the Central North Island hills and ranges until early Monday. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: Tararua Ranges, Mt Taranaki and the hilly country extending inland from Taranaki across to Mt Ruapehu, including Waitomo, Taumarunui and the headwaters of the Whanganui River. WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE: Strong Wind Warnings lifted for higher hills of Wellington and Wairarapa including the summit of the Rimutaka Road.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:23 pm 05-Oct-2008: Heavy rain at times about the Central North Island hill country expected to ease overnight Saturday. Includes HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: hilly country from inland Taranaki to Mt Ruapehu, including Waitomo, Taumarunui and the headwaters of the Whanganui River. WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE: Heavy Rain Warnings lifted for Tararua Ranges and Mt Taranaki.
High Wind / Gust
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 7:28 am 06-Oct-2008: Rain has eased over the Central North Island. WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE: Heavy Rain Warnings lifted for hilly country from inland Taranaki to Mt Ruapehu, including Waitomo, Taumarunui and the headwaters of the Whanganui River.
Severe northwest gales swept over the Wairarapa, Wellington, Marlborough and Canterbury on the 4th. High winds ripped down trees, tore lines from electric power poles and posed hazards for drivers.
On the 4th, fronts crossed New Zealand, preceded by a warm northwesterley flow. On the 5th, the remains of the frontal system stalled over the central North Island, while a weak ridge spread onto the South Island. On the 6th, the ridge over the South Island dispersed as an active trough developed over the Tasman Sea, joining with the remains of the frontal system over the North Island. A north-westerly flow again developed over the whole country.
Manawatu-Wanganui
Multi Hazard
at
Manawatu-Wanganui
Heavy rain and some flooding occurred in Manawatu-Wanganui on the 5th and 6th.
Heavy Rain
Heavy rains caused trees to fall on to overhead lines on the 5th, leaving about 5500 Powerco customers in Feilding, Kairanga, Linton and Tiritea without power. Supply was restored to about 4800 customers within 15 minutes, but the remaining 400 had no power until 4pm.
Heavy Rain
at
Feilding
At 11.55am on the 5th, trees came down on overhead lines near Feilding, cutting supply to about 300 people until 4pm.
Flooding
at
Linton
A power cut at about 12.45pm came after four power poles were washed into a flooding Manawatu River near Linton. This caused power to be cut to about 5200 people.
In Hewitts Road, near Linton, the swollen Kahuterawa Stream scoured away a bank, sweeping a tree, a small power pylon and almost half the road way into the water on Sunday. The pylon and tree were still in the stream on the 8th.
Flooding
at
Opiki
Flooding closed a section of SH56 between Opiki and Tiakatahuna on the 6th. Heavy rain and the opening of the Moutoa floodgates saw the road closed for about 12 hours due to surface flooding.
Wellington
High Wind / Gust
at
Rimutaka Hill
A wind gust of 158 km/hr was reported on the Rimutakas north of Wellington on the 4th - the strongest wind of the day.
Canterbury
High Wind / Gust
at
Canterbury
In Cantebrury, roofs were blown off buildings, power lines snapped and trees were ripped apart.
Gale-force norwesters fanned two scrubfires in Canterbury on the 4th. Both fires started from agricultural burnoffs.
The MetService recorded a maximum wind gust of 130 km/hr in Canterbury.
Around 2400 Orion customers in central Canterbury lost power for up to 10 hours, while 1200 experienced brief interruptions.
High Wind / Gust
at
Ashburton
Firefighters attended a fire caused by a fallen power line on Swamp Road.
High Wind / Gust
at
Leeston
Power lines and trees were across the road on Smith Road and Beachcroft Road in Leeston.
High Wind / Gust
at
Levels
The wind reignited a fire at the Timaru Golf Club at Levels on the 4th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Little Rakaia
A bush fire at Little Rakaia was first reported at 8.28am on the 4th and came within 500m of the township during the afternoon. At one point it had burned at least 25ha of scrub. It was contained by nightfall.
High Wind / Gust
at
Little River
A bonfire at Little River got out of control at 2:30pm on the 4th, burning in scrub on extremely steep hillsides above the town. It was under control three hours later. A resident lost several thousand pine trees or around a fifth of his 20ha pine plantation.
High Wind / Gust
at
Methven
Wind gusts blew over a campervan on Arundel Rakaia Gorge Road, near Pudding Hill, at about 7.30am on the 4th. A woman on board suffered a head cut when the oven fell on her, and was taken to a local medical centre.
About 200 metres further along Arundel Rakaia Gorge Road from the campervan, a power pole was left hanging at a 45 degree angle after the wood splintered up the pole, causing it to break.
Winds gusted up to 120 km/hr.
High Wind / Gust
at
Mount Cook
Gusts up to 115 km/hr were recorded at Mt Cook on the 4th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Mount Somers
From 6am to 4pm gusts of over 120 km/hr were observed around the Mount Somers area.
High Wind / Gust
at
Porters Pass
A truck on Porters Pass (SH73) lost a load of iron sheets.
High Wind / Gust
at
Richard Pearse Airport
Gusts up to 80 km/hr were recorded at Richard Pearse Airport on the 4th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Springfield
Trees and power lines were bought down on SH73 west of Springfield. In Springfield, power lines were down across the road on Pocock Road and trees were down on Kowai Road.
High Wind / Gust
at
Staveley
Staveley was one of the hardest hit areas in Mid Canterbury. Farmers had to deal with trees knocked down both on their properties and on roads.
High Wind / Gust
at
Timaru
Strong winds were experienced in Timaru on the 4th.
The winds damaged trees and blew over election signs. Loose iron was blown around the Timaru Boys High School tennis courts.
The winds ripped the border off the Pak 'n Save sign in at about 1pm. Part of the sign landed on the bonnet of a nearby car, causing some damage.
Morgans Road was closed for a time on the afternoon of the 4th while an unstable tree was removed after having broken at its base.
Power was cut to a number of Timaru homes during the afternoon.
References
- Headline: High winds hit Mid Canterbury.
- www.ashburtonguardian.co.nz, 6 October 2008.
- Meteorological Society of New Zealand (Inc.). (2008). Climate summary for spring 2008. Newsletter 115, December 2008. 12-22
- Headline: Scrub fire threatens town.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 4 October 2008, 2:22pm.
- Headline: Canterbury scrub fire fears allayed.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 4 Ocotober 2008.
- Headline: High wind warning for Canterbury.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 4 Ocotober 2008.
- Headline: Weather causes power havoc.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Manawatu Standard, 7 Ocotober 2008.
- Headline: Waters sweep the region.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Manawatu Standard, 9 Ocotober 2008.
- Headline: Scrub fires contained in Canterbury.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press and NZPA, 4 Ocotober 2008.
- Headline: Another holiday from hell puts wind up family.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Sunday Star Times, 5 Ocotober 2008.
- Headline: Region takes pounding.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Timaru Herald, 5 Ocotober 2008, 11:50pm.
- MetService Email Lists