{The "Bola" month. Somewhat ironically, the last 2 weeks of the month were settled, and were followed by one of the most anticyclonic Aprils on record.}

March 1988: For the first few days of March anticyclonic conditions brought generally fine warm weather. During that time tropical cyclone ‘Bola’ moved southeast from the New Hebrides to the Kermadec Islands. On the 6th it began to move southwestwards towards New Zealand, bringing gale force east to southeast winds and heavy rain to northern and eastern regions of the North Island. Some of the maximum gusts were 91 knots (167 kph) at Mt Te Aroha on the evening of the 6th and 77 knots on the 7th; 70 knots (130 kph) at Auckland Airport on the 8th. On the 9th the centre of the storm moved over Northland, easing the rain and high winds. Prolonged heavy rain in the East Cape and Gisborne regions resulted in severe flooding throughout many rural areas. A state of emergency resulted in at least 2500 people being evacuated, with flood damage estimated to be in excess of $50 million. Over the next few days a period of moist northeasterlies prevailed over much of the country, followed by disturbed westerlies from the 13th to the 16th with the passage of a large trough. Cooler southwesterlies spread onto the country on the 17th followed by anticyclonic conditions. A ridge of high pressure extended onto New Zealand from the Tasman Sea until the end of the month. This was interrupted by brief southwest changes on the 26th, 28th and 30th.

Rainfall: Totals were more than twice normal in Northland, Auckland, much of Coromandel, East Cape, Gisborne, northern Hawkes Bay, and inland parts of Nelson. A total of 792mm (671% of average) at Tutira (Hawkes Bay) was its highest in records dating from 1895, surpassing the 781mm of April 1938. 776mm (426% of normal) fell at Te Pua Springs (East Cape). Very large amounts of rain were recorded in these regions from the 6th-8th. Some extremely high totals were 419 and 368mm in the 24 hours to 9am on the 8th at Te Pua Springs and Ruangarehu; 320mm and 329mm at Tutira Station in the 24 hours to 9am on the 8th and the 9th respectively. In some places rainfall for the 7th and/or 8th had return periods exceeding 50 years. Totals for March were 60% to 70% of normal in Manawatu, and 20-70% of normal in eastern regions of the South Island. Only 13mm was recorded at Timaru Airport, 9mm at Alexandra, and 22mm at Christchurch Airport.

Other monthly totals (mm): Kerikeri 353, Owairaka 217, Port Fitzroy 720, Te Aroha 304, Ruatoria 649, Gisborne 322, Wairoa Hospital 223, Rotoiti 266; Taupo 54, New Plymouth Aero 75, Ohakea 41, Dunedin 25, Bendigo 9.

Temperatures: Mean temperatures were just above normal in inland Canterbury, but 0.5C-1C below normal over much of the remainder of New Zealand. It was much cooler in Westland, Fiordland and Central Otago, where means were 1.5 to 2C below normal. Auckland Airport’s 27.0C on the 3rd was its highest March reading since 1972, and a maximum of 27.4C at Hokitika Airport on the 10th was its highest March value since records started in 1964.

34.8C maximum at Darfield on the 4th, -5.0C minimum at Molesworth on the 30th.

Sunshine: Hours of bright sunshine were about 110% of normal in eastern Bay of Plenty and Westland, and up to 120% of normal in Canterbury and Otago. It was cloudier in Northland and in North Island regions south of Hawkes Bay, with hours from 80-90% of normal.

[Some totals: Kaitaia 152, Dargaville 155, Whangarei 136, Tauranga 203, Whakatane 227, Rotorua 183, Taupo 179, Auckland Aero 171, Te Kauwhata 151, New Plymouth 181, Masterton 152, Dannevirke 134, Martinborough 168, Gisborne 198, Napier 195, Wairoa 202, Palmerston North 136, Levin 142, Wellington 170, Stratford 155, Takaka 184, Westport 141, Arapito 125, Hokitika 181, Greymouth 143, Nelson 198, Blenheim 197, Kaikoura 203, Mt Cook 160, Christchurch 194, Timaru 169, Palmerston 170, Dunedin Aero 170, Dunedin 139, Te Anau 190, Queenstown 222 (*), Cromwell 229, Alexandra 210, Invercargill 141, Campbell Is 45].

(*) About 74% of the recordable (NZ record about 82%)


Sources: NZ Met. Misc. pub. 107 (Climatological table, NZ Gazette) and NZ Met. Misc. pub. 109 (Meteorological Observations) - additional comments in italics.

Thanks for this Rupert and thanks Jenny for bringing it up.
This event did horrendous wind damage in coastal Taranaki, costing many millions and yet the official records emphasize the flooding in the east coast. I must dig up what happened here and add to the discussion, for Bola was a major event in our area. Somewhere I saw a record of the insurance claims made and will see what I can contribute to the discussion.
Interesting that we have another potentially damaging storm on its way today, so a good time to review.
At the time I was living in at Omapere, (Opononi) in the Hokianga. Locally, there wasn't that much wind, really, and other than no power and running water for several days, nothing too major. But just a few miles inland, towards Kaikohe, pine forests were flattened, looking a bit like one of those Siberian meteorite events!

Thanks for that, RWood. I will make contact with Ereck.