Taranaki Tornado

NZstorm · Unread post by **NZstorm** » Sun 15/08/2004 12:10

According to NewtalkZB news, one person has been killed and three hurt by a tornado in Taranki this morning. The rural house was destroyed by the apparent tornado.

Thunder · Unread post by **Thunder** » Sun 15/08/2004 12:54

I can see on the lightning map that the Taranaki area had thunderstorms sometime early this morning. Will be interesting to watch on the news tonight provided they do a report on it. The last death caused by a tornado was 1990 I believe in Auckland.

03Stormchaser · Unread post by **03Stormchaser** » Sun 15/08/2004 12:58

Taranaki tornado kills woman

15 August 2004

A woman has been killed and three people are in hospital after a mini-tornado tore their Taranaki house apart.

The twister struck a farm at Motunui north of Waitara this morning.

The tornado came in from the sea shortly before seven o'clock, swept across the paddocks, and flattened a farmhouse and outbuildings.

A woman and two young children have been rushed to Taranaki Base Hospital in New Plymouth.

Another woman, understood to be in her fifties, is dead.

Sergeant Robbie O'Keefe says the twister picked the entire house up before dropping it again, leaving it completely destroyed.

The people inside were eventually dumped on the ground at least thirty metres from where the house stood.

Robbie O'Keefe says the family's possessions are scattered all over the farm.

Relatives of the family have begun the heart-breaking task of cleaning up.

One of them, Nova Mason, who was in bed at her home nearby, says everyone is struggling to come to grips with the tragedy.

Gary Roberts · Unread post by **Gary Roberts** » Sun 15/08/2004 13:01

03 Stormchaser wrote:Taranaki tornado kills woman

15 August 2004

A woman has been killed and three people are in hospital after a mini-tornado tore their Taranaki house apart.

TonyT · Unread post by **TonyT** » Sun 15/08/2004 13:02

03 Stormchaser wrote:Taranaki tornado kills woman

15 August 2004

A woman has been killed and three people are in hospital after a mini-tornado tore their Taranaki house apart.

Sergeant Robbie O'Keefe says the twister picked the entire house up before dropping it again, leaving it completely destroyed.

If it picked up the house then it wasnt a mini-tornado. It was a regular sized one.

03Stormchaser · Unread post by **03Stormchaser** » Sun 15/08/2004 13:10

Interesting to note about tornadoes in the taranaki are:

The great majority of tornadoes in New Zealand occur in the North Island, particularly around the Bay of Plenty at about 38Â° S, and along to Auckland, where there were about 17 in a small region (5). There is another concentration on the western coast of Taranaki near New Plymouth, and twelve were observed at that town between 1961-1975. The places with most tornadoes tend to be relatively well populated, so there may be many more unobserved tornadoes elsewhere

To read this information: Sturman, A.P. and N. Tapper 1996. The Weather and Climate of Australia and New Zealand (Oxford) 476pp. (on p292 they publish a diagram initially constructed by Tomlinson and Nicol in 1976, showing the location of tornadoes observed during 1961-1975 in New Zealand)

Thunder · Unread post by **Thunder** » Sun 15/08/2004 13:14

No tornado is a mini tornado!

It must've been pretty big to pick up a house.

When looking at the upper level wind profils you can see a 70 to 75 knot jet lying right over the Taranki area, so if it was going to happen it was going to happen there.

Going by reports it looks to be F2, maybe F3? Biggest I know of is the F2 tornado in Hamilton Frankton 1948. Most likely F2, quite amazing but at the same time tragic.

NZstorm · Unread post by **NZstorm** » Sun 15/08/2004 13:21

It certainly wasn't a 'mini tornado'. From what we have heard, this could be an F2 rating.

The last tornado fatality in NZ was in Auckland 1991. Previous to that, Auckland 1980, Taranaki 1976. In 1948, 3 people were killed and 80 hurt near Hamilton.

Thunder · Unread post by **Thunder** » Sun 15/08/2004 13:25

1991!, thanks StevenW.

Forgive me for my ignorince but does the upper level jet have something to do with tornado development? I believe it does from what I've read in the past. I just wrote the stuff about the upper level jet in my post above and then thinking, does it have something to do with tornado development?

tich · Unread post by **tich** » Sun 15/08/2004 13:36

Many other tornadoes in NZ probably would've killed if people were caught in them, but most NZ twisters strike thinly populated rural areas. The Taranaki family were unfortunately in the wrong place at the wrong time. Imagine if a tornado struck somewhere like the central Auckland CBD.

NZ Thunderstorm Soc · Sun 15/08/2004 14:06

NZstorm wrote:It certainly wasn't a 'mini tornado'. From what we have heard, this could be an F2 rating.

The last tornado fatality in NZ was in Auckland 1991. Previous to that, Auckland 1980, Taranaki 1976. In 1948, 3 people were killed and 80 hurt near Hamilton.

Yes ...but according to the media, ALL tornadoes outside Tornado Alley in the USA, well even outside the USA in general are called mini-torndoes despite how big and the destructive force of them.

....but The most important think about, this event:
"Did anyone get it on tape?!!!!"

JohnGaul
NZTS

NZstorm · Unread post by **NZstorm** » Sun 15/08/2004 14:17

Many other tornadoes in NZ probably would've killed if people were caught in them

A tornado passed through suburban Auckland(Mt Albert, Pt Chev.) August 1992, but luckily it occured at 3am when people were off the streets.

Aaron, upper jets have alot to do with tornado formation in USA. They foster the development of troughs and enhance instabilty.

Low level jet is also important for tornado formation in USA. The NZPP sounding at 1200z had the 2000ft and 5000ft winds above 50knots.

Michael · Unread post by **Michael** » Sun 15/08/2004 14:18

Its just another pc term like saying the wind is breezy instead of fresh or calling a router pronounced rowter instead of "rooter"

NZ Thunderstorm Soc wrote:
Yes ...but according to the media, ALL tornadoes outside Tornado Alley in the USA, well even outside the USA in general are called mini-torndoes despite how big and the destructive force of them.

JohnGaul
NZTS

CbFan · Unread post by **CbFan** » Sun 15/08/2004 14:55

NZ Thunderstorm Soc wrote: ....but The most important think about, this event:
"Did anyone get it on tape?!!!!"

JohnGaul
NZTS

The wok fell off the chase vehicle as I was bump starting it down the drive, So I missed this one

Manukau heads obs · Sun 15/08/2004 15:33

wow!
the front as it crossed the auckland area certainly was active too....brief heavy rain and squally winds, and a great towering squall line to boot
must have been much more active over taranaki
with the big temperature gradient between north and south island at the moment, I am not surprised a tornado has occured!

NZstorm · Unread post by **NZstorm** » Sun 15/08/2004 18:17

Looking at the property damage on TV, I would say this tornado could be an F3.

Manukau heads obs · Sun 15/08/2004 18:31

it must have been a direct hit
its the sudden drop in air pressure that makes the house explode, and the lifting action involved....i.e it was an older wooden house, most likely just sitting on piles....

i swiotched to TV3, and there was great coverage of the hurricane in florida....amazing amount of damage......nearly as bad a Andrew by the looks!

i remember last august there was lots of stormy weather (strong winds etc) in NZ when the USA was getting a hurricance (in N/S carolina)
15th august does not ring any bells for the moon...from what i can see

NZstorm · Unread post by **NZstorm** » Sun 15/08/2004 19:17

its the sudden drop in air pressure that makes the house explode, and the lifting action involved

I think that is a bit of a myth Brian. Its wind velocity that does the damage.

Yes, the devastation in USA is amazing.

Manukau heads obs · Sun 15/08/2004 19:26

ok, i will rephrase/give more detail:
the sudden drop in air pressure make it easier for the roof to lift off/ the wall to explode out, and then once its like that, then the winds can mangled it up/toss it around/roll it along the ground, etc (and especialy with the winds swrling in a very tight center, it would be like being a washing machine....

anyway, i am pretty sure its a major ingredient...
what say others

NZ Thunderstorm Soc · Sun 15/08/2004 19:34

Good weather news footage on TV3 this evening.
The Waitara tornado, yes Steven I would give it F3.
I noticed they said a 'violent' tornado struck.
Yes, an interesting cold front, definately active especially in the comparisons of the temperatures before and after the front.
20 in Naper today, 18C here yesterday and now zero with it snowing, after a maximum of 7C at reading time this morning.
From then during the day, the temperature gradually got lower.
This to me is weather at it's best, not boring

JohnGaul
NZTS

Thunder · Unread post by **Thunder** » Sun 15/08/2004 20:23

Thanks Steven re the upper level jet.

So it looks to be F3!, that's like one if not the most highest rated tornado in NZ according to the fujita scale. A freakishly big tornado for NZ!!

Yes Ben, I agree. If other tornadoes had've happened in populated areas things could well be different.

03Stormchaser · Unread post by **03Stormchaser** » Mon 16/08/2004 07:37

NZ Thunderstorm Soc wrote:
NZstorm wrote: ....but The most important think about, this event:
"Did anyone get it on tape?!!!!"

JohnGaul
NZTS

Some how I dont think it is the most important!!! A little insensitive to the family of the victims!

Manukau heads obs · Mon 16/08/2004 07:46

yes, its always hard that area...but this is a weather forum.....its a fine line that gets walked....not easy....

Thunder · Unread post by **Thunder** » Mon 16/08/2004 14:36

Yes I understand what you mean Stephen but as Brian says, this is a weather forum. So in terms of weather, nobody got it on tape! That'll be what John means. Would've been awsome to see it!

So what type of cloud produced this beast people? Supercell? I don't think so, some very active Cb

NZ Thunderstorm Soc · Mon 16/08/2004 16:12

03 Stormchaser wrote:
NZ Thunderstorm Soc wrote: Some how I dont think it is the most important!!! A little insensitive to the family of the victims!

Sorry Stephen, I didn't mean that way.

All forms of inclement weather have that element of tragidy associated with it. This event is important because of that.
I was speaking from this weather forums point of view

JohnGaul
NZTS