Tropical Rain Storm January 2026

A tropical storm named 94P, targeted Norfolk Island this week, bringing humid warm weather and heavy rain, enough to fill our water tanks, filling dams and the streams making waterfalls flow, which looked impressive at Cockpit Reserve. The Kingston area filled with water, as the watermill dam stream overflowed through Arthur's Vale, and flooded the wetland swamps. There was flood water across the roads in areas including the driveway to Government House and also caused the closure of the road between Country Road and the Cenotaph, and Taylor's Road was also closed from Queen Elizabeth Drive down to Kingston due to damage to the downhill roadway.

The rain started Monday 19 January, with about 93mm over night. On Tuesday, there were light showers, but around 3pm the rain started and at times it was so heavy it was like a water blaster over night and on Wednesday morning. About 200mm was recorded, added to the night before was about 300mm or 12 inches of solid rain.

As the tropical depression passed Norfolk Island the wind picked up for a couple of hours. Finally, the tropical low had passed our small island leaving filled water tanks, muddy driveways, instead of dust, along with lots of pot holes, some are very large, so take care when driving as it will take awhile for the roadworks team to inspect and repair the storm damaged roads.

I took a drive on Wednesday afternoon, out to Cascade, the swells were up and waves were crashing over the front of the Cascade Pier. At Kingston the roads were wet and the streams at Kingston were gushing muddy water into Emily Bay, so instead of pretty blue, the lagoon was now muddy brown, and it was advised not to swim at the beach until the storm water has stopped flowing and water clears. We don't want anyone to get sick in the polluted water.

The Emily Bay roadway to Lone Pine was flooded across the road and the glass bottom boat and tractors were surrounded in deep water. I expect they won't be out in the bay for a little while, the water is so dirty in the bay, there will be no visibility.

There is also a large Norfolk Pine tree trunk in the Kingston Pier area, which has fallen down the steep cliff face, and debris is also floating in the water. Boaties will need to take care when out on the water for any submerged tree trucks from the storm. There appears to have been coastal erosion along the cliff edges under Flagstaff Hill.

Along Quality Row, the historic houses were also impacted by the heavy rain running down the steep hillside. I have seen a video of water flowing over the front garden wall at number 9, plus another house had water inside during the heavy downpours. The museum house at number 10 has a retaining wall collapse at the rear of the Annex. This area has been taped off for safety, so please do not enter the area.

There were additional water features at the Kingston Golf Club, and the Bowling Greens did not need watering, they were more like a paddling pool.

This was a significate weather event, even though it was not recorded as a Tropical Cyclone. The Tropical Depression or Low was named 94P. The Norfolk Island Radio interview with Adam the weatherman gave these details. The rain fall official figures over the three days was 288.6mm, the second wettest January on records with 1959 recording 335.5mm and 233mm in one day. This weeks rain was the most sub-stained period of rain on the BOM records, and it is the third time January has had this much rain. Norfolk Island recorded three months of rain in a couple of days, not a bad way to start the year, with filled water tanks and rain water to replenish the water table which has been under stress after last year’s drought.

The tropical rain storm headed to New Zealand and caused devastation and destruction. Northland and the East Cape areas were still recovering from earlier rain storms this month and this weather event caused flooding, road closures, land slides and life threating damage to homes in many areas. Regional State of Emergencies were declared as the rain and thunderstorms left many without power and flooded roads cutting off many communities. The news has been filled with images of the damage from Northland, North of Auckland areas, Coromandel, East Cape, Bay of Plenty, in the Tauranga area with deaths from landslides which have crashed into properties and the sadness at Mount Maunganui where a massive landside destroyed a camping ground and search and rescue teams are still desperately trying to find survivors and the victims.

Only three years ago in February 2023, TC Gabrielle crossed Norfolk Island and then caused destruction in many areas of New Zealand. In 1988, TC Bola was another historic storm that also destroyed many homes and businesses with floods and high winds and power outages across the North Island of New Zealand.

The images on social media also remind me of the sad floods in Australia in recent years as well as the historic 2011 floods that claimed lives and shocked many with the power of rising waterways. This time last year was TC Alfred, the massive storm that hit QLD and NSW and delayed our cargo vessel from delivering our freight as stormy swells made it unsafe to cross the Tasman Sea.

I hope locals here on Norfolk Island did not have too much damage, I expect rain water managed to get into car ports etc, but good to know we now have our water tanks filled and gardens watered.

Now our thoughts and sadness are with our closest neighbour, New Zealand. The massive floods and storm damaged have destroyed homes, businesses, cut off communities and sadly there has been families who have lost loved ones. I hope everyone’s family and friends are safe in Kiwiland.

Here are a few photos I took this week and images of the weather maps

Betty Matthew

23 January 2026