NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue

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ModerateSeptember 1927 Gisborne Storm ( 1927-09-26 )

North Island

Multi HazardMulti Hazard
Duration:   3  days - From the 26th to the 28th of September.
Comments:

Bay of Plenty

Multi HazardMulti Hazard at Opotiki
Map Location: -38.005993 177.293236
Comments:

CommentThere was a severe southerly gale accompanied by heavy rain at Opotiki on the night of the 26th.

Gisborne

Multi HazardMulti Hazard at Gisborne
Comments:

CommentThe Government Meteorologist sent a warning at 8:45pm on the 27th that a cyclone was situated off East Cape. Stormy weather, heavy rain and flooded rivers probable, with high southerly winds.

CommentA southeasterly storm of exceptional violence, accompanied by almost incessant drenching rain, lashed the Gisborne district.

Heavy RainHeavy Rain
Comments:

CommentThe torrential rainfall in the back country was much heavier than the downpour experienced in town.

FloodingFlooding
Comments:

CommentFlooded rivers overflowed their banks, inundating large areas of the Poverty Bay flats. On the 28th, the floods in the flats at the back of Gisborne were the worst that year.

Affected LifelineThe Gisborne-Motu road was impassable due to the rains reducing it to mud and slush 1 ft (30.5 cm) deep.

LandslideLandslide
Comments:

Affected LifelineThe most serious feature of the floods was the disloction of the Gisborne-Motuhora railway service through the line being inundated and covered with landslips between Kaiteratahi and Otoko. Slips on the railway line precluded any traffic on the northern route on the 28th.

FloodingFlooding at Bushmere homestead
Map Location: -38.639374 177.926985
Comments:

CommentWhen the river was at its flush a considerable volume of water broke through Tietjen's cutting and over the adjoining properties.

High Wind GustsHigh Wind / Gust at Gisborne city
Map Location: -38.656661 178.017356
Comments:

CommentThe wind was cyclonic in its fury and reached its highest pitch on the night of the 27th and the early hours of the 28th.

Heavy RainHeavy Rain
Comments:

CommentThe rain literally poured down in torrents, backing up the already swollen rivers caused by the downpour of the previous day. The rivers rose with remarkable rapidity.

Physical CharacteristicOne town gauge recorded 2.26 in (5.7 cm) of rain in the 48 hours from 9am on the 26th to 9am on the 28th.

Physical CharacteristicAnother town gauge recorded 2.93 in (7.4 cm) of rain in the 48 hours from 9am on the 26th to 9am on the 28th. This gauge was in a more exposed position.

FloodingFlooding
Comments:

Affected LifelineThe municipal water supply was cut off on the night of the 28th in Gisborne owing to a break in the top line beyond the resevroir at Te Arai. The creek supplying the reservoir was in high flood that day. The water remained off on the 29th.

FloodingFlooding at Kaitaratahi
Map Location: -38.527149 177.903096
Comments:

Affected LifelineThe railway tunnel at Kaiteratahi was flooded with 5 ft (1.5 m) of water. There was also a subsidence under the rails near Kaiteratahi.

FloodingFlooding at Ormond
Map Location: -38.559145 177.924847
Comments:

Affected LifelineAt Ormond, the Waipaoa River overflowed into the "Ormond dip". In the morning there was over 2 ft (61 cm) of water over the road and two cars became stuck.

LandslideLandslide at Otoko
Map Location: -38.463891 177.646866
Comments:

Affected LifelineThere were two minor slips on the railway line north of Otoko.

FloodingFlooding at Patutahi
Map Location: -38.625099 177.890921
Comments:

CommentOn the flats at Patutahi, the flood waters from the direction of Tangihau flanked the settlers.

Physical CharacteristicAt the lower end of the flats one house was surrounded by 2-3 ft (61-92 cm) of water.

EvacueesThe occupiers of the house were compelled to evacuate during the middle of the afternoon.

Stock DamageThey lost a milking cow to the flood.

Crop DamageThey also lost a valuable crop of lucerne by the waters covering their property.

FloodingFlooding at Puha
Map Location: -38.458563 177.830076
Comments:

Physical CharacteristicThe Mangatu River overflowed its banks near Puha. Two low level bridges, one near Scott's and the other near Holdsworth's were covered to a depth of 2 ft (61 cm) and 3 ft (91 cm) respectively.

Affected LifelineBetween 8am and 9am on the 28th the Waipaoa River broke its banks near Puha and flooded the railway line to a depth of 2 ft (61 cm) for a distance of 1/4 mile (402 m) between the station and the tunnel. It had been 11 years since the Waipaoa River had inundatated the line at this point.

Physical CharacteristicAt the time the railway line flooded there was fully 5 ft (1.5 m) of water in the Puha tunnel. During the afternoon it started to recede.

FloodingFlooding at Repongaere homestead
Map Location: -38.595622 177.894628
Comments:

CommentAt Repongaere the river had not been so high in many years and the stopbanks were broken in several places on the western side of the river.

Affected LifelineThe Lavernham creek backed up and overflowed, inundating the Lavernham Rd near Hair's.

FloodingFlooding at Tangihau station
Map Location: -38.574409 177.612199
Comments:

CommentNear Tangihau station, where the flood banks collapsed, the water rushed through.

Multi HazardMulti Hazard at Te Karaka
Map Location: -38.467237 177.870255
Comments:

CommentTe Karaka appeared to have been the storm centre.

Heavy RainHeavy Rain
Comments:

Physical CharacteristicTe Karaka registered 0.36 in (0.9 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 27th.

Physical CharacteristicTe Karaka registered 4.64 in (11.8 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 28th.

Physical Characteristic5 in (12.7 cm) of rain fell in Te Karaka in the 48 hours from 9am on the 26th to 9am on the 28th. This was the heaviest rainfall experienced in that district since the flood of 1914.

FloodingFlooding
Comments:

Physical CharacteristicAt Te Karaka, the Waipaoa River was within 5 ft (1.5 m) of the level it reached in 1914.

Multi HazardMulti Hazard at Tokomaru Bay
Map Location: -38.12831 178.319381
Comments:

CommentTokomaru Bay was subjected to a heavy gale, accompanied by steady rain, from the night of the 26th.

Heavy RainHeavy Rain
Comments:

Physical Characteristic3.50 in (8.9 cm) of rain fell in Tokomaru Bay in 36 hours.

FloodingFlooding
Comments:

CommentAll rivers and creeks in the Tokomaru Bay area were in high flood.

Affected LifelineCommunication with Ruatoria by road was cut off.

Affected LifelineThe Mangahawini stream (Mangahauini River?) was in high flood and cars could not enter the township from the Gisborne side.

High Wind GustsHigh Wind / Gust
Comments:

CommentThe wind shifted from one quarter to another repeatedly. On the 28th it was blowing a gale from the west.

FloodingFlooding at Tolaga Bay
Map Location: -38.370254 178.307107
Comments:

CommentThe Uawa River had risen considerably as a result of continued rain.

Heavy RainHeavy Rain
Comments:

Physical CharacteristicThe official record of rainfall had reached 4.25 in (10.8 cm).

FloodingFlooding at Waerengaahika
Map Location: -38.601149 177.92432
Comments:

CommentThe Waipaoa River overflowed at Waerengaahika.

Physical CharacteristicThe Waipaoa River rose 9 ft (2.7 m) within 6 hours. By 2:30pm on the 28th the water was within a few inches of the top of the stop banks due to the swelling of the volume by other flood waters from the back country. The river was subsiding on the night of the 28th.

ImpactAt the lowest part of Waerengaahika, the water commenced to overflow on to some of the properties adjoinging the river at about 10am. As the river increased in volume in the afternoon the rear portions of D. P. Cameron's, Luttrell's, McIntosh's land were inundated.

Physical CharacteristicA large area of Ferris' land was under water to a depth of a couple of inches.

LandslideLandslide at Waikohu homestead
Map Location: -38.460237 177.789465
Comments:

Affected LifelineA slip blocked the railway line 2 miles (3.2 km) beyond Waikohu station. It covered the line for some 3-4 chains (60-80 m) and was expected to take two days to clear.

Heavy RainHeavy Rain at Whatatutu
Map Location: -38.383361 177.836991
Comments:

CommentAt Whatatutu, exceptionally heavy rain commenced on the night of the 26th and continued incessantly until 8am on the 28th when it started to ease off.

FloodingFlooding
Comments:

CommentThe "big river" commenced to rise on the morning of the 27th. During the night the volume of water rose alarmingly and in the early hours of the 28th it overflowed its banks in several of the low-lying parts of the township. The river also inundated about 30 or 40 acres (0.12-0.16 km) of the Te Hau and Waitehiki station properties.

CommentThe Mangatu River did not show signs of rising until the afternoon of the 27th, but it quickly reached the top of the banks. In several of the low-lying spots on the road it overflowed but not sufficiently to hold up traffic.

Hawke's Bay

FloodingFlooding at Hawke's Bay
Comments:

Affected LifelineThe road between Nuhaka and Wairoa was covered with water for 9 miles (14.5 km), in some cases to a depth of 6 in (15.2 cm).

LandslideLandslide at Whakaki
Map Location: -39.035783 177.589381
Comments:

Affected LifelineThree large slips came down on the Wairoa-Gisborne road in the Happy Home cutting two miles on the other side of Whakaki, completely covering the road and rendering it impassable for all motor traffic.

References

Cowie, C.A. and Attwood, A.K. (1957). Floods in New Zealand 1920-1953. The Soil Conservation Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand.
Headline: The weather.
The Gisborne Times, 28 September 1927.
Headline: Storm and floods.
The Gisborne Times, 29 September 1927.
Headline: Storm ceases at Opotiki.
The Gisborne Times, 29 September 1927.

ModerateSeptember 1927 Gisborne Storm ( 1927-09-26 )

North Island

Multi HazardMulti Hazard
Duration:   3  days - From the 26th to the 28th of September.
Comments:

Bay of Plenty

Multi HazardMulti Hazard at Opotiki
Map Location: -38.005993 177.293236
Comments:

CommentThere was a severe southerly gale accompanied by heavy rain at Opotiki on the night of the 26th.

Gisborne

Multi HazardMulti Hazard at Gisborne
Comments:

CommentThe Government Meteorologist sent a warning at 8:45pm on the 27th that a cyclone was situated off East Cape. Stormy weather, heavy rain and flooded rivers probable, with high southerly winds.

CommentA southeasterly storm of exceptional violence, accompanied by almost incessant drenching rain, lashed the Gisborne district.

Heavy RainHeavy Rain
Comments:

CommentThe torrential rainfall in the back country was much heavier than the downpour experienced in town.

FloodingFlooding
Comments:

CommentFlooded rivers overflowed their banks, inundating large areas of the Poverty Bay flats. On the 28th, the floods in the flats at the back of Gisborne were the worst that year.

Affected LifelineThe Gisborne-Motu road was impassable due to the rains reducing it to mud and slush 1 ft (30.5 cm) deep.

LandslideLandslide
Comments:

Affected LifelineThe most serious feature of the floods was the disloction of the Gisborne-Motuhora railway service through the line being inundated and covered with landslips between Kaiteratahi and Otoko. Slips on the railway line precluded any traffic on the northern route on the 28th.

FloodingFlooding at Bushmere homestead
Map Location: -38.639374 177.926985
Comments:

CommentWhen the river was at its flush a considerable volume of water broke through Tietjen's cutting and over the adjoining properties.

High Wind GustsHigh Wind / Gust at Gisborne city
Map Location: -38.656661 178.017356
Comments:

CommentThe wind was cyclonic in its fury and reached its highest pitch on the night of the 27th and the early hours of the 28th.

Heavy RainHeavy Rain
Comments:

CommentThe rain literally poured down in torrents, backing up the already swollen rivers caused by the downpour of the previous day. The rivers rose with remarkable rapidity.

Physical CharacteristicOne town gauge recorded 2.26 in (5.7 cm) of rain in the 48 hours from 9am on the 26th to 9am on the 28th.

Physical CharacteristicAnother town gauge recorded 2.93 in (7.4 cm) of rain in the 48 hours from 9am on the 26th to 9am on the 28th. This gauge was in a more exposed position.

FloodingFlooding
Comments:

Affected LifelineThe municipal water supply was cut off on the night of the 28th in Gisborne owing to a break in the top line beyond the resevroir at Te Arai. The creek supplying the reservoir was in high flood that day. The water remained off on the 29th.

FloodingFlooding at Kaitaratahi
Map Location: -38.527149 177.903096
Comments:

Affected LifelineThe railway tunnel at Kaiteratahi was flooded with 5 ft (1.5 m) of water. There was also a subsidence under the rails near Kaiteratahi.

FloodingFlooding at Ormond
Map Location: -38.559145 177.924847
Comments:

Affected LifelineAt Ormond, the Waipaoa River overflowed into the "Ormond dip". In the morning there was over 2 ft (61 cm) of water over the road and two cars became stuck.

LandslideLandslide at Otoko
Map Location: -38.463891 177.646866
Comments:

Affected LifelineThere were two minor slips on the railway line north of Otoko.

FloodingFlooding at Patutahi
Map Location: -38.625099 177.890921
Comments:

CommentOn the flats at Patutahi, the flood waters from the direction of Tangihau flanked the settlers.

Physical CharacteristicAt the lower end of the flats one house was surrounded by 2-3 ft (61-92 cm) of water.

EvacueesThe occupiers of the house were compelled to evacuate during the middle of the afternoon.

Stock DamageThey lost a milking cow to the flood.

Crop DamageThey also lost a valuable crop of lucerne by the waters covering their property.

FloodingFlooding at Puha
Map Location: -38.458563 177.830076
Comments:

Physical CharacteristicThe Mangatu River overflowed its banks near Puha. Two low level bridges, one near Scott's and the other near Holdsworth's were covered to a depth of 2 ft (61 cm) and 3 ft (91 cm) respectively.

Affected LifelineBetween 8am and 9am on the 28th the Waipaoa River broke its banks near Puha and flooded the railway line to a depth of 2 ft (61 cm) for a distance of 1/4 mile (402 m) between the station and the tunnel. It had been 11 years since the Waipaoa River had inundatated the line at this point.

Physical CharacteristicAt the time the railway line flooded there was fully 5 ft (1.5 m) of water in the Puha tunnel. During the afternoon it started to recede.

FloodingFlooding at Repongaere homestead
Map Location: -38.595622 177.894628
Comments:

CommentAt Repongaere the river had not been so high in many years and the stopbanks were broken in several places on the western side of the river.

Affected LifelineThe Lavernham creek backed up and overflowed, inundating the Lavernham Rd near Hair's.

FloodingFlooding at Tangihau station
Map Location: -38.574409 177.612199
Comments:

CommentNear Tangihau station, where the flood banks collapsed, the water rushed through.

Multi HazardMulti Hazard at Te Karaka
Map Location: -38.467237 177.870255
Comments:

CommentTe Karaka appeared to have been the storm centre.

Heavy RainHeavy Rain
Comments:

Physical CharacteristicTe Karaka registered 0.36 in (0.9 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 27th.

Physical CharacteristicTe Karaka registered 4.64 in (11.8 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 28th.

Physical Characteristic5 in (12.7 cm) of rain fell in Te Karaka in the 48 hours from 9am on the 26th to 9am on the 28th. This was the heaviest rainfall experienced in that district since the flood of 1914.

FloodingFlooding
Comments:

Physical CharacteristicAt Te Karaka, the Waipaoa River was within 5 ft (1.5 m) of the level it reached in 1914.

Multi HazardMulti Hazard at Tokomaru Bay
Map Location: -38.12831 178.319381
Comments:

CommentTokomaru Bay was subjected to a heavy gale, accompanied by steady rain, from the night of the 26th.

Heavy RainHeavy Rain
Comments:

Physical Characteristic3.50 in (8.9 cm) of rain fell in Tokomaru Bay in 36 hours.

FloodingFlooding
Comments:

CommentAll rivers and creeks in the Tokomaru Bay area were in high flood.

Affected LifelineCommunication with Ruatoria by road was cut off.

Affected LifelineThe Mangahawini stream (Mangahauini River?) was in high flood and cars could not enter the township from the Gisborne side.

High Wind GustsHigh Wind / Gust
Comments:

CommentThe wind shifted from one quarter to another repeatedly. On the 28th it was blowing a gale from the west.

FloodingFlooding at Tolaga Bay
Map Location: -38.370254 178.307107
Comments:

CommentThe Uawa River had risen considerably as a result of continued rain.

Heavy RainHeavy Rain
Comments:

Physical CharacteristicThe official record of rainfall had reached 4.25 in (10.8 cm).

FloodingFlooding at Waerengaahika
Map Location: -38.601149 177.92432
Comments:

CommentThe Waipaoa River overflowed at Waerengaahika.

Physical CharacteristicThe Waipaoa River rose 9 ft (2.7 m) within 6 hours. By 2:30pm on the 28th the water was within a few inches of the top of the stop banks due to the swelling of the volume by other flood waters from the back country. The river was subsiding on the night of the 28th.

ImpactAt the lowest part of Waerengaahika, the water commenced to overflow on to some of the properties adjoinging the river at about 10am. As the river increased in volume in the afternoon the rear portions of D. P. Cameron's, Luttrell's, McIntosh's land were inundated.

Physical CharacteristicA large area of Ferris' land was under water to a depth of a couple of inches.

LandslideLandslide at Waikohu homestead
Map Location: -38.460237 177.789465
Comments:

Affected LifelineA slip blocked the railway line 2 miles (3.2 km) beyond Waikohu station. It covered the line for some 3-4 chains (60-80 m) and was expected to take two days to clear.

Heavy RainHeavy Rain at Whatatutu
Map Location: -38.383361 177.836991
Comments:

CommentAt Whatatutu, exceptionally heavy rain commenced on the night of the 26th and continued incessantly until 8am on the 28th when it started to ease off.

FloodingFlooding
Comments:

CommentThe "big river" commenced to rise on the morning of the 27th. During the night the volume of water rose alarmingly and in the early hours of the 28th it overflowed its banks in several of the low-lying parts of the township. The river also inundated about 30 or 40 acres (0.12-0.16 km) of the Te Hau and Waitehiki station properties.

CommentThe Mangatu River did not show signs of rising until the afternoon of the 27th, but it quickly reached the top of the banks. In several of the low-lying spots on the road it overflowed but not sufficiently to hold up traffic.

Hawke's Bay

FloodingFlooding at Hawke's Bay
Comments:

Affected LifelineThe road between Nuhaka and Wairoa was covered with water for 9 miles (14.5 km), in some cases to a depth of 6 in (15.2 cm).

LandslideLandslide at Whakaki
Map Location: -39.035783 177.589381
Comments:

Affected LifelineThree large slips came down on the Wairoa-Gisborne road in the Happy Home cutting two miles on the other side of Whakaki, completely covering the road and rendering it impassable for all motor traffic.

References

Cowie, C.A. and Attwood, A.K. (1957). Floods in New Zealand 1920-1953. The Soil Conservation Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand.
Headline: The weather.
The Gisborne Times, 28 September 1927.
Headline: Storm and floods.
The Gisborne Times, 29 September 1927.
Headline: Storm ceases at Opotiki.
The Gisborne Times, 29 September 1927.