1984 Southland floods

Weather event in New Zealand November 2024 November 2024 1984 Southland flood 1984 Southland floods.png Flooded homes 1984 01 26 y Southland Region, New Zealand In late January 1984, the Southland and Fiordland regions of New Zealand's South Island experienced a strong north-westerly front and moist conditions, which led to heavy rainfall and flooding between 26 and 27 January.January 1984 Southland Flooding (1984-01-26) https://hwe.niwa.co.nz/event/January_1984_Southland_Flooding 11 November 2024 NIWA https://web.archive.org/web/20240607012009/https://hwe.niwa.co.nz/event/January_1984_Southland_Flooding 7 June 2024 live Several urban centres and towns in Southland including Invercargill, Riverton, Bluff, Otautau and Tuatapere experienced significant flooding.Whārangi 4. Southland floods and Cyclone Bola https://teara.govt.nz/mi/floods/page-4 11 November 2024 Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage 10 June 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240610063533/https://teara.govt.nz/mi/floods/page-4 live Southland floods https://my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/southland-floods/ 11 November 2024 Christchurch City Libraries https://web.archive.org/web/20230608105057/https://my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/southland-floods/ 8 June 2023 liveFloods devastate Southland https://nzhistory.govt.nz/page/floods-devastate-southland 11 November 2024 nzhistory.govt.nz Ministry for Culture and Heritage 19 June 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240619202027/https://nzhistory.govt.nz/page/floods-devastate-southland live In response, the Mayor of Invercargill Eve Poole and Civil Defence authorities declared local states of emergency in Invercargill and much of Southland. The 1984 Southland floods caused significant damage to local housing, farms, infrastructure, and property, with insurance claims amounting to between $45.8 million and $55 million ($NZ 131 2009 0 million and $NZ 157.3 2009 0million, adjusted for inflation). Flood event According to the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), the lower South Island experienced a strong north-westerly airstream between 26 and 28 January 1984. Heavy rain was caused by a frontal band stalling over the lower South Island, which was reinforced by a very strong, warm moist pre-frontal flow and the orographic descent of moist low-level air over the Fiordland mountains. Rainfall values reached the high 30s at times. NIWA believed that the frontal band had originated in the tropical regions of north and north-western Australia. While the Canterbury and Otago regions also experienced heavy rainfall, the Southland and Fiordland bore the brunt of the wet weather front due to a deep layer of humid air during a 36-hour period between 26 and 27 January. In Southland's high country areas, the hills and mountains were inundated by the moist north-westerly airstream. This weather flow was met by a southerly front, resulting in heavy rainfall in the lower-lying parts of Southland. While it was raining in Southland and Fiordland on the morning of 26 January, the rain was forecast to become heavy within 18 hours. Throughout the day the rain got stronger, and after meeting with a southerly front, the streets of Invercargill, Riverton, Bluff, Otautau and Tuatapere started to experience surface flooding at about 9pm. The floodwaters continued to rise, river banks started overflowing, and houses were flooded. Sandbags and pumping were used to defend against the water, but this did not work well.26 January 2024 Southland remembers the 1984 floods https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/350154294/southland-remembers-1984-floods 11 November 2024 The Southland Times 2 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240302111843/https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/350154294/southland-remembers-1984-floods live There was 143 mm of rainfall in total, which was "almost twice as much" as the month's average. On 26 January, Invercargill had 84.8 mm of rain. For the 24 hours before 9am on 27 January, Invercargill Airport had reported 134 mm of rain.April 2024 Lessons from 1984 Southland flood still relevant today https://www.es.govt.nz/about-us/envirosouth/2024-stories/april-2024/lessons-from-1984-southland-flood-still-relevant-today 11 November 2024 Environment Southland https://web.archive.org/web/20240512115529/https://www.es.govt.nz/about-us/envirosouth/2024-stories/april-2024/lessons-from-1984-southland-flood-still-relevant-today 12 May 2024 live According to NIWA, many areas in Southland experienced 100 mm of rain, with 13 sites in the Southland plains reporting 130 mm over a 24-hour period. Rainfall over much of the region exceeded the 100-year return period values. Some Fiordland mountains experienced heavy rainfall with return periods of between five and ten years. The Otepuni Creek and Waihopai River overflowed, which caused the evacuation of about 5,000 people.Fox Rebecca 26 January 2009 Some people 'never' recovered https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/southland/some-people-never-recovered 11 November 2024 Otago Daily Times https://web.archive.org/web/20240304120128/https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/southland/some-people-never-recovered 4 March 2024 live Impact and responses Mayor Poole declared a state of emergency on 27 January at 4am due to severe flooding. By this time entire streets had flooded and people throughout the town were evacuated from their homes. The flooding occurred throughout Southland so the state of emergency was extended to cover it at mid-morning. The rain stopped on the same day, but the flooding continued to get worse. At one point, Invercargill Airport was 3 m deep in water and 10 aeroplanes were partly submerged. It took until 27 February for the state of emergency to be lifted. In addition, a Civil Defence declaration remained in force throughout much of Southland between 27 January and 9 February 1984. In Invercargill, about 4,000 people were evacuated from 1,000 homes, and it took about a week for them to be able to return. Helicopters rescued a few people from rooftops. Some people had trouble evacuating because they did not want to leave their pets behind. In Otautau, 300 people were evacuated from 190 houses. In Tuatapere, 70 homes were evacuated and 37 were flooded. About 1,200 houses were condemned,24 January 2024 Southland council says more funding needed for flood protection https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/507430/southland-council-says-more-funding-needed-for-flood-protection 11 November 2024 RNZ https://web.archive.org/web/20241003143409/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/507430/southland-council-says-more-funding-needed-for-flood-protection 3 October 2024 live and roughly 5,000 tonnes of personal possessions had to be disposed of. Hundreds of flood-damaged vehicles were sold in Invercargill at public auction, and an endorsement of their flood-damaged status was added to their ownership papers.11 February 1984 Papers of flood vehicles endorsed https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19840211.2.55 14 November 2024 The Press PapersPast There were no human fatalities, although over 12,000 sheep, 334 pigs, 100 cattle and 75 deer died or were 'lost'. In addition, 170 km of fencing, 52 farm bridges and 234 culverts were destroyed. In terms of transportation, all of Southland's roads and railways were flooded, cutting the region off from the rest of the country and 100 bridges were also damaged. Air services were also suspended. In response to the flooding, civil defence sirens were installed in Invercargill in 1984 and 1985.December 2013 The use of sirens for tsunami warning in New Zealand https://www.civildefence.govt.nz/assets/Archive/The-use-of-sirens-for-tsunami-warning-in-New-Zealand.pdf 18 June 2025 Civil Defence 21 Aftermath Paid out insurance claims totalled $45.8 million ($NZ 131 2009 0 million, adjusted for inflation), and damage was estimated from $50 million to $55 million ($NZ 143 2009 0 million to $NZ 157.3 2009 0 million, adjusted for inflation). A public flood relief appeal raised NZ$6 million. A book of photographs of the flood, Southland's Black Friday, was published to support the appeal.21 July 1984 Southland's flood https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19840721.2.115.12 14 November 2024 The Press PapersPastLind Clive Southland's black Friday Craig Printing 1984 0908629133 Invercargill In two Invercargill streets 29 houses could not be protected from flooding and were to be relocated.29 March 1984 Flood relief $2.6M, but 'not enough' https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19840329.2.35 14 November 2024 The Press16 May 1984 Flood funds approved https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19840516.2.137 14 November 2024 The Press In January 2024, Environment Southland described the event as a 'catalyst' for flood protection upgrades that were later done in the area.25 January 2024 1984 floods led to vital upgrades https://www.odt.co.nz/southland/southland-express/1984-floods-led-vital-upgrades 11 November 2024 Southland Express Allied Press 27 January 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240127062951/https://www.odt.co.nz/southland/southland-express/1984-floods-led-vital-upgrades live References External links 1984 Southland floods on YouTube Flooding in Invercargill video Category:1980s disasters in New Zealand Category:Floods in New Zealand Category:Weather events in New Zealand Category:1984 in New Zealand Category:January 1984 in Oceania Category:History of the Southland Region