Unusual interaction between two low-pressure zones caused intense storms over New Zealand’s Northland on July 17, 2020. The worst affected was Whangarei, where emergency services responded to more than 220 calls. “This is just diabolical for our people. We’ve gone from drought to dealing with a 1 in 500-year event. Unbelievable,” Whangārei Mayor Sheryl Mai said.
According to MetService meteorologists, the storm dropped 220 mm (8.6 inches) of rain on Whangarei from 19:00 LT on July 17 to 07:00 LT on July 18. ‘We call this a greater-than-500-year return period,’ the service said.
The worst of the storm came around 19:00 LT, with about 50 mm (1.9 inches) per hour.
Several gauges exceeded 250 mm (9.8 inches) of rain in 24 hours, including over 150 mm (5.9 inches) in just 4 hours at Whangarei Aero and 56.8 mm (2.2 inches) at Kaikohe in just 1 hour.
According to NIWA, Whangarei recorded its wettest July hour on record between 20:00 and 21:00 LT on July 17, with 39.6 mm (1.5 inches).
132.6 mm (5.2 inches) fell in just 4 hours between 18:00 and 22:00 LT, which is 78% of the monthly normal.
Unusual interaction between two low-pressure zones caused intense storms over New Zealand’s Northland on July 17, 2020. The worst affected was Whangarei, where emergency services responded to more than 220 calls. “This is just diabolical for our people. We’ve gone from drought to dealing with a 1 in 500-year event. Unbelievable,” Whangārei Mayor Sheryl Mai said.
According to MetService meteorologists, the storm dropped 220 mm (8.6 inches) of rain on Whangarei from 19:00 LT on July 17 to 07:00 LT on July 18. ‘We call this a greater-than-500-year return period,’ the service said.
The worst of the storm came around 19:00 LT, with about 50 mm (1.9 inches) per hour.
Several gauges exceeded 250 mm (9.8 inches) of rain in 24 hours, including over 150 mm (5.9 inches) in just 4 hours at Whangarei Aero and 56.8 mm (2.2 inches) at Kaikohe in just 1 hour.
According to NIWA, Whangarei recorded its wettest July hour on record between 20:00 and 21:00 LT on July 17, with 39.6 mm (1.5 inches).
132.6 mm (5.2 inches) fell in just 4 hours between 18:00 and 22:00 LT, which is 78% of the monthly normal.
Further rainfalls of 40 to 60 mm (1.5 – 2.3 inches) an hour could still fall this morning, July 18, MetService said, adding that the storm should break by the afternoon and turn to periods of showers later in the day before petering off tomorrow.
Officials are urging residents to stay off the roads and to keep up with weather watches and warnings via MetService.
Old, slow moving low to the northwest. In the South: ridge trapping low cloud in valleys. Between: easterlies, troughs and a weak front. Get the details for your location at https://t.co/hnwmGxU1gR ^RK pic.twitter.com/hl4cNd5XHG
— MetService (@MetService) July 18, 2020
❗ Whangārei recorded its wettest July hour on record between 8-9 pm Friday, with 39.6 mm 🌧️ 🌧️ 🌧️
— NIWA Weather (@NiwaWeather) July 17, 2020
132.6 mm fell in just 4 hours between 6-10 pm or 78% of the monthly normal!
⚠️ Moderate to heavy rain is expected to continue. Remember to never cross flooded roadways! pic.twitter.com/k43M3UpQZd
Why the wild weather? The low has nowhere to go! This weekend's weather will be a "rinse and repeat" of today as the low continues to direct a cloudy, northeast flow across the north, and a ridge maintains settled weather to the south. Details at https://t.co/Yjbq0jxdqz ^Tahlia pic.twitter.com/BGmOraz7wj
— MetService (@MetService) July 17, 2020
Some incredible rain totals from across Northland last night, with several gauges exceeding 250mm of rain in 24hrs, including over 150mm in just 4 hours at Whangarei Aero, and 56.8mm at Kaikohe in just 1 hour. Track the rain here: https://t.co/F9fZPWgf0f ^RK pic.twitter.com/NDUmL3MUXv
— MetService (@MetService) July 17, 2020
Unusual interaction between two low-pressure zones caused intense storms over New Zealand’s Northland on July 17, 2020. The worst affected was Whangarei, where emergency services responded to more than 220 calls. “This is just diabolical for our people. We’ve gone from drought to dealing with a 1 in 500-year event. Unbelievable,” Whangārei Mayor Sheryl Mai said.
According to MetService meteorologists, the storm dropped 220 mm (8.6 inches) of rain on Whangarei from 19:00 LT on July 17 to 07:00 LT on July 18. ‘We call this a greater-than-500-year return period,’ the service said.
The worst of the storm came around 19:00 LT, with about 50 mm (1.9 inches) per hour.
Several gauges exceeded 250 mm (9.8 inches) of rain in 24 hours, including over 150 mm (5.9 inches) in just 4 hours at Whangarei Aero and 56.8 mm (2.2 inches) at Kaikohe in just 1 hour.
According to NIWA, Whangarei recorded its wettest July hour on record between 20:00 and 21:00 LT on July 17, with 39.6 mm (1.5 inches).
132.6 mm (5.2 inches) fell in just 4 hours between 18:00 and 22:00 LT, which is 78% of the monthly normal.
Further rainfalls of 40 to 60 mm (1.5 – 2.3 inches) an hour could still fall this morning, July 18, MetService said, adding that the storm should break by the afternoon and turn to periods of showers later in the day before petering off tomorrow.
Officials are urging residents to stay off the roads and to keep up with weather watches and warnings via MetService.
Parts of the region were under floodwaters more than 1 m (3.3 feet) deep, NZ Herald reported. Floods and landslides partially blocked Whangarei Heads Road in a number of places, prompting officials to call in a rescue helicopter.
Northland Civil Defence and Emergency Management said fire crews carried the brunt of the emergency response overnight, rescuing people trapped in cars in floodwaters and helping evacuate people from homes.
