NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
October 2010 Gisborne Flooding
(
2010-10-13
)
Heavy rain caused flooding and landslip across many roads in Gisborne.
Gisborne
Multi Hazard
at
Gisborne
A deep, slow moving low northeast of New Zealand was directing strong, moist southeasterlies across the northern and central North Island. A moist south-easterly front stalled over the East Cape.
Insurance claims for the storm total $0.25 million.
Heavy rain and flooding continued from the 13th to the 14th of October.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 9:00am 12-Oct-2010: A deep low lies northeast of New Zealand today and Wednesday, directing a strong moist southeasterly flow across much of the North Island. A period of heavy rain for Gisborne late on the 12th and on the 13th.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 5:41pm 12-Oct-2010: A deep slow moving low northeast of New Zealand is bringing a moist, strengthening southeasterly flow across the northern and central North Island and outbreaks of rain are forecast with some heavy falls. A period of heavy rain for Gisborne. A spell of severe southeast gales in northern Gisborne and eastern Bay of Plenty also exposed coastal areas from Coromandel Peninsula to Northland including Great Barrier Island.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:57pm 12-Oct-2010: A period of heavy rain for Gisborne and Hawke's Bay through to the 14th. A spell of severe southeast gales in northern Gisborne and eastern Bay of Plenty also exposed coastal areas from Coromandel Peninsula to Northland including Great Barrier Island.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 9:20pm 12-Oct-2010: A period of heavy rain for Gisborne and Hawke's Bay through to the 14th. A spell of severe southeast gales on the night of the 12th in northern Gisborne and eastern Bay of Plenty also exposed coastal areas from Coromandel Peninsula to Northland including Great Barrier Island.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:29am 13-Oct-2010: A period of heavy rain for Gisborne and Hawke's Bay through to the 14th.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:35pm 13-Oct-2010: Rain is starting to ease from the north in the Gisborne region but is expected to affect Hawke's Bay through to the afternoon of the 14th.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 9:14am 14-Oct-2010: A low northeast of New Zealand is starting to move southeast and the widespread heavy rain eased in Gisborne and northern Hawkes Bay earlier this morning. However, slow moving thunderstorms are forecast for inland Gisborne this afternoon and early evening with some localised heavy downpours. A strong southeast airstream is still bringing heavy rain to Hawkes Bay from about Napier southwards but is expected to ease by early afternoon.
Metservice SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH issued at 10:32 am Thursday 14 October 2010 for: Bay of Plenty and Gisborne.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 1:49pm 14-Oct-2010: Heavy rain has eased in Hawke's Bay, south of Napier, and the warning is lifted.
Metservice SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH issued at 02:15 pm Thursday 14 October 2010 for: Bay of Plenty and Gisborne.
Heavy Rain
Between Ruatoria and Tolaga Bay there was more than 200 mm (20.0 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
North and inland of Tolaga Bay and Tokomaru Bay recorded 250 mm (25.0 cm) in 30 hours.
Areas close to Gisborne recorded more than 200 mm (20.0 cm) of rain in 30 hours.
Some areas west of Gisborne city recorded up to 300 mm (30.0 cm) of rain in 30 hours.
There was 22 mm (2.2 cm) of rain in the lowlands and up to 58 mm (5.8 cm) of rain in the ranges in 24 hours from 8am on the 14th.
Flooding
There was extensive surface flooding throughout the district. Some was deeper and in places not seen before, probably because of the high water tables following the wet winter.
Rural children around the Gisborne district were sent home early on the 13th. The flooding forced the closure of rural schools.
Some homes were without power but this was restored the same day. There were homes without power from Lottin Point, Hicks Bay, Waikura Valley and Te Puia Springs through to Rakauroa, west of Gisborne city.
Surface flooding closed several roads on the Gisborne Flats.
Across Poverty Bay Flats there were a number of homes that were surrounded by surface flooding, but it didn’t reach into their homes.
There was extensive flooding on the Gisborne Flats was in some places up to 1 m deep.
There was a great deal of damage done to newly planted crops at Poverty Bay Flats, just south of Gisborne. Several hundred hectares of young crops were submerged on the 14th.
At least two people needed help to escape from vehicles, while there were a couple of minor accidents due to flooding.
Road closures on the 13th included those at Tuparoa and Waikawa roads, Hikuwai, Matahiia, Ngatapa Valley Road closed from Patutahi, and Anaura Bay Road at the intersection of SH 35. Rural arterial roads - Tauwhareparae, Harper, Riverside, Anauru Bay, Utting and Ngatapa roads- were closed on the 14th. Other rural roads closed included Mata, Bellerby, Te Kumi, Waiau, Pehiri, Hukanui and Bruce roads.
State Highway 2 was closed at Te Karaka and also between Wairoa and Whirinaki at Tangoio due to flooding. Gisborne was only accessible via SH38 through Te Urewera National Park, or SH35 around the coast to the north, although a large slip blocked one lane of SH35 on Hospital Hill at Te Araroa. SH5 from Taupo was hit by surface flooding but remained open. Many roads were closed and flood waters crossed State Highway 35 in several places. SH35 was down to one lane near Waipiro Bay and at Te Araroa.
All major roads were reopened on the 14th after surface flooding and slips closed many highways and blocked Gisborne from Napier for a short time. Some small rural roads remained closed on the 14th.
Landslide
A big issue facing the district was erosion and earth movements, with reports of slips and slumps on most back country roads, and mud flows coming down exposed hillsides.
Flooding
at
Gisborne city
Within the city, flood waters came across Thomson Street, near the Botanical Gardens next to Taruheru River, and also into Ferguson Drive properties. Waters from the Waimata River broached Anzac Park. Properties in Ferguson Drive had water in their back yards.
All flights after 11:40am were cancelled on the 13th, disrupting flight plans for people on eight turnaround flights between Wellington and Gisborne and Auckland and Gisborne, affecting hundreds of people.
A water pump station of Barkers Hill was damaged by the storm and residents in Hill Road and Hillary Heights were asked to conserve water.
High Wind / Gust
On the night of the 13th, firefighters were called to the corner of Lytton Road and Stout Street after a power pole caught fire. It was believed the high wind caused wires to clash and arc.
Flooding
at
Hikuwai River
Communities north of Tolaga Bay were evacuated on the afternoon of the 13th as the Hikuwai River rose. At least 30 families in the Mangatuna, Wharekaka, Paroa and Mangaheia areas were affected.
Hikuwai River rose to 12.4 m at Willow Flat on the 13th.
Flooding
at
Kanakanaia
Waipaoa River peaked at just under 9 m at Kanakanaia, overtopping the inner banks in some places.
Flooding
at
Mangatuna
At Mangatuna homes were at risk of being inundated in floods by the swollen and rapidly flowing river.
Landslide
at
Matawai
On the 14th 20 cars were trapped between two large slips on SH2 between Matawai and Te Karaka. One of two slips pushed two cars together, causing an elderly man to suffer suspected back injuries.
Flooding
at
Ngatapa
A truck was stuck in the middle of a flooded road at Ngatapa on the 13th requiring the occupants to sit on the roof to wait for help.
Multi Hazard
at
Otoko
26 motorists were forced to overnight at the Otoko rest area after they were blocked by a slip at Otoko Hill and a washed out bridge on State Highway 2 on the 14th and 15th.
Flooding
at
Patutahi
Five Patutahi families were stranded inside or away from their homes since the 13th to the 16th when parts of Repongaere and Lake roads went under water.
Flooding
at
Te Karaka
A truck and trailer unit was washed off the road by floodwater 5 kms north of Te Karaka on the 14th.
Flooding
at
Tolaga Bay
A car hit surface flooding at speed south of Tolaga Bay causing it to flip and roll into a paddock. There were no injuries.
Flooding
at
Uawa River
Uawa River rose to over 11 m at Willow Flat.
Heavy Rain
at
Waerengaokuri
Waerenga o kuri received the highest rainfall at 306 mm (30.6 cm) of rain in 30 hours.
Hawke's Bay
Heavy Rain
at
Hawke's Bay
Most of Hawke's Bay received 50-120 mm (5.0-12.0 cm) of rain in 24 hours to 8am on the 14th.
The area north of Nuhaka in the Wairoa district received 200 mm (20.0 cm) of rain in 24 hours to 8am on the 14th.
Flooding
There was some surface flooding but no significant damage.
Napier flights were affected by the bad weather.
Multi Hazard
State Highway 2 between Napier and Wairoa was closed because of flooding and slips on the morning of the 14th.
References
- Gisborne CDEM Group Emergency Operations Centre, 13 October 2010, 4:45pm. Extreme caution advised on roads. Release No: 3.
- Gisborne CDEM Group Emergency Operations Centre, 13 October 2010, 4pm. Tolaga Bay communities evacuated. Release No: 2.
- Headline: Motorists trapped after landslip.
- Otago Daily Times, 15 October 2010.
- Headline: Flooding forces Coast communities to evacuate.
- The Gisborne Herald, 13 October 2010.
- Headline: Access cut off north and south.
- The Gisborne Herald, 14 October 2010.
- Headline: Floodwater flings truck from highway.
- The Gisborne Herald, 14 October 2010.
- Headline: It was a near thing - roads, crops hit.
- The Gisborne Herald, 14 October 2010.
- Headline: Trapped driver rescued from roof of ute at Ngatapa.
- The Gisborne Herald, 14 October 2010.
- Headline: Weather disrupts many Gisborne flights.
- The Gisborne Herald, 14 October 2010.
- Headline: Lake Rd families stranded.
- The Gisborne Herald, 16 October 2010.
- Headline: Homes evacuated as rain lashes Gisborne region.
- The New Zealand Herald, 13 October 2010, 3:33pm.
- Headline: 'Extreme caution' urged as heavy rain persists.
- The New Zealand Herald, 13 October 2010, 8:16pm.
- Headline: Rain warning for Hawke's Bay, Gisborne.
- The New Zealand Herald, 13 October 2010, 9:28am.
- Headline: Gisborne rain eases, warnings lifted.
- The New Zealand Herald, 14 October 2010, 4:01pm.
- Headline: Flooded roads leave Gisborne virtually isolated.
- The New Zealand Herald, 14 October 2010, 9:23am.
- Headline: Gisborne sodden after another deluge.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 15 October 2010, 5:00am.
- Insurance Council of New Zealand (www.icnz.org.nz/current/weather)
October 2010 Gisborne Flooding
(
2010-10-13
)
Heavy rain caused flooding and landslip across many roads in Gisborne.
Gisborne
Multi Hazard
at
Gisborne
A deep, slow moving low northeast of New Zealand was directing strong, moist southeasterlies across the northern and central North Island. A moist south-easterly front stalled over the East Cape.
Insurance claims for the storm total $0.25 million.
Heavy rain and flooding continued from the 13th to the 14th of October.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 9:00am 12-Oct-2010: A deep low lies northeast of New Zealand today and Wednesday, directing a strong moist southeasterly flow across much of the North Island. A period of heavy rain for Gisborne late on the 12th and on the 13th.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 5:41pm 12-Oct-2010: A deep slow moving low northeast of New Zealand is bringing a moist, strengthening southeasterly flow across the northern and central North Island and outbreaks of rain are forecast with some heavy falls. A period of heavy rain for Gisborne. A spell of severe southeast gales in northern Gisborne and eastern Bay of Plenty also exposed coastal areas from Coromandel Peninsula to Northland including Great Barrier Island.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:57pm 12-Oct-2010: A period of heavy rain for Gisborne and Hawke's Bay through to the 14th. A spell of severe southeast gales in northern Gisborne and eastern Bay of Plenty also exposed coastal areas from Coromandel Peninsula to Northland including Great Barrier Island.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 9:20pm 12-Oct-2010: A period of heavy rain for Gisborne and Hawke's Bay through to the 14th. A spell of severe southeast gales on the night of the 12th in northern Gisborne and eastern Bay of Plenty also exposed coastal areas from Coromandel Peninsula to Northland including Great Barrier Island.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:29am 13-Oct-2010: A period of heavy rain for Gisborne and Hawke's Bay through to the 14th.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:35pm 13-Oct-2010: Rain is starting to ease from the north in the Gisborne region but is expected to affect Hawke's Bay through to the afternoon of the 14th.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 9:14am 14-Oct-2010: A low northeast of New Zealand is starting to move southeast and the widespread heavy rain eased in Gisborne and northern Hawkes Bay earlier this morning. However, slow moving thunderstorms are forecast for inland Gisborne this afternoon and early evening with some localised heavy downpours. A strong southeast airstream is still bringing heavy rain to Hawkes Bay from about Napier southwards but is expected to ease by early afternoon.
Metservice SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH issued at 10:32 am Thursday 14 October 2010 for: Bay of Plenty and Gisborne.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 1:49pm 14-Oct-2010: Heavy rain has eased in Hawke's Bay, south of Napier, and the warning is lifted.
Metservice SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH issued at 02:15 pm Thursday 14 October 2010 for: Bay of Plenty and Gisborne.
Heavy Rain
Between Ruatoria and Tolaga Bay there was more than 200 mm (20.0 cm) of rain in 24 hours.
North and inland of Tolaga Bay and Tokomaru Bay recorded 250 mm (25.0 cm) in 30 hours.
Areas close to Gisborne recorded more than 200 mm (20.0 cm) of rain in 30 hours.
Some areas west of Gisborne city recorded up to 300 mm (30.0 cm) of rain in 30 hours.
There was 22 mm (2.2 cm) of rain in the lowlands and up to 58 mm (5.8 cm) of rain in the ranges in 24 hours from 8am on the 14th.
Flooding
There was extensive surface flooding throughout the district. Some was deeper and in places not seen before, probably because of the high water tables following the wet winter.
Rural children around the Gisborne district were sent home early on the 13th. The flooding forced the closure of rural schools.
Some homes were without power but this was restored the same day. There were homes without power from Lottin Point, Hicks Bay, Waikura Valley and Te Puia Springs through to Rakauroa, west of Gisborne city.
Surface flooding closed several roads on the Gisborne Flats.
Across Poverty Bay Flats there were a number of homes that were surrounded by surface flooding, but it didn’t reach into their homes.
There was extensive flooding on the Gisborne Flats was in some places up to 1 m deep.
There was a great deal of damage done to newly planted crops at Poverty Bay Flats, just south of Gisborne. Several hundred hectares of young crops were submerged on the 14th.
At least two people needed help to escape from vehicles, while there were a couple of minor accidents due to flooding.
Road closures on the 13th included those at Tuparoa and Waikawa roads, Hikuwai, Matahiia, Ngatapa Valley Road closed from Patutahi, and Anaura Bay Road at the intersection of SH 35. Rural arterial roads - Tauwhareparae, Harper, Riverside, Anauru Bay, Utting and Ngatapa roads- were closed on the 14th. Other rural roads closed included Mata, Bellerby, Te Kumi, Waiau, Pehiri, Hukanui and Bruce roads.
State Highway 2 was closed at Te Karaka and also between Wairoa and Whirinaki at Tangoio due to flooding. Gisborne was only accessible via SH38 through Te Urewera National Park, or SH35 around the coast to the north, although a large slip blocked one lane of SH35 on Hospital Hill at Te Araroa. SH5 from Taupo was hit by surface flooding but remained open. Many roads were closed and flood waters crossed State Highway 35 in several places. SH35 was down to one lane near Waipiro Bay and at Te Araroa.
All major roads were reopened on the 14th after surface flooding and slips closed many highways and blocked Gisborne from Napier for a short time. Some small rural roads remained closed on the 14th.
Landslide
A big issue facing the district was erosion and earth movements, with reports of slips and slumps on most back country roads, and mud flows coming down exposed hillsides.
Flooding
at
Gisborne city
Within the city, flood waters came across Thomson Street, near the Botanical Gardens next to Taruheru River, and also into Ferguson Drive properties. Waters from the Waimata River broached Anzac Park. Properties in Ferguson Drive had water in their back yards.
All flights after 11:40am were cancelled on the 13th, disrupting flight plans for people on eight turnaround flights between Wellington and Gisborne and Auckland and Gisborne, affecting hundreds of people.
A water pump station of Barkers Hill was damaged by the storm and residents in Hill Road and Hillary Heights were asked to conserve water.
High Wind / Gust
On the night of the 13th, firefighters were called to the corner of Lytton Road and Stout Street after a power pole caught fire. It was believed the high wind caused wires to clash and arc.
Flooding
at
Hikuwai River
Communities north of Tolaga Bay were evacuated on the afternoon of the 13th as the Hikuwai River rose. At least 30 families in the Mangatuna, Wharekaka, Paroa and Mangaheia areas were affected.
Hikuwai River rose to 12.4 m at Willow Flat on the 13th.
Flooding
at
Kanakanaia
Waipaoa River peaked at just under 9 m at Kanakanaia, overtopping the inner banks in some places.
Flooding
at
Mangatuna
At Mangatuna homes were at risk of being inundated in floods by the swollen and rapidly flowing river.
Landslide
at
Matawai
On the 14th 20 cars were trapped between two large slips on SH2 between Matawai and Te Karaka. One of two slips pushed two cars together, causing an elderly man to suffer suspected back injuries.
Flooding
at
Ngatapa
A truck was stuck in the middle of a flooded road at Ngatapa on the 13th requiring the occupants to sit on the roof to wait for help.
Multi Hazard
at
Otoko
26 motorists were forced to overnight at the Otoko rest area after they were blocked by a slip at Otoko Hill and a washed out bridge on State Highway 2 on the 14th and 15th.
Flooding
at
Patutahi
Five Patutahi families were stranded inside or away from their homes since the 13th to the 16th when parts of Repongaere and Lake roads went under water.
Flooding
at
Te Karaka
A truck and trailer unit was washed off the road by floodwater 5 kms north of Te Karaka on the 14th.
Flooding
at
Tolaga Bay
A car hit surface flooding at speed south of Tolaga Bay causing it to flip and roll into a paddock. There were no injuries.
Flooding
at
Uawa River
Uawa River rose to over 11 m at Willow Flat.
Heavy Rain
at
Waerengaokuri
Waerenga o kuri received the highest rainfall at 306 mm (30.6 cm) of rain in 30 hours.
Hawke's Bay
Heavy Rain
at
Hawke's Bay
Most of Hawke's Bay received 50-120 mm (5.0-12.0 cm) of rain in 24 hours to 8am on the 14th.
The area north of Nuhaka in the Wairoa district received 200 mm (20.0 cm) of rain in 24 hours to 8am on the 14th.
Flooding
There was some surface flooding but no significant damage.
Napier flights were affected by the bad weather.
Multi Hazard
State Highway 2 between Napier and Wairoa was closed because of flooding and slips on the morning of the 14th.
References
- Gisborne CDEM Group Emergency Operations Centre, 13 October 2010, 4:45pm. Extreme caution advised on roads. Release No: 3.
- Gisborne CDEM Group Emergency Operations Centre, 13 October 2010, 4pm. Tolaga Bay communities evacuated. Release No: 2.
- Headline: Motorists trapped after landslip.
- Otago Daily Times, 15 October 2010.
- Headline: Flooding forces Coast communities to evacuate.
- The Gisborne Herald, 13 October 2010.
- Headline: Access cut off north and south.
- The Gisborne Herald, 14 October 2010.
- Headline: Floodwater flings truck from highway.
- The Gisborne Herald, 14 October 2010.
- Headline: It was a near thing - roads, crops hit.
- The Gisborne Herald, 14 October 2010.
- Headline: Trapped driver rescued from roof of ute at Ngatapa.
- The Gisborne Herald, 14 October 2010.
- Headline: Weather disrupts many Gisborne flights.
- The Gisborne Herald, 14 October 2010.
- Headline: Lake Rd families stranded.
- The Gisborne Herald, 16 October 2010.
- Headline: Homes evacuated as rain lashes Gisborne region.
- The New Zealand Herald, 13 October 2010, 3:33pm.
- Headline: 'Extreme caution' urged as heavy rain persists.
- The New Zealand Herald, 13 October 2010, 8:16pm.
- Headline: Rain warning for Hawke's Bay, Gisborne.
- The New Zealand Herald, 13 October 2010, 9:28am.
- Headline: Gisborne rain eases, warnings lifted.
- The New Zealand Herald, 14 October 2010, 4:01pm.
- Headline: Flooded roads leave Gisborne virtually isolated.
- The New Zealand Herald, 14 October 2010, 9:23am.
- Headline: Gisborne sodden after another deluge.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 15 October 2010, 5:00am.
- Insurance Council of New Zealand (www.icnz.org.nz/current/weather)