Powerful winds cause mayhem ! & Look set to continue Today!! Keep Safe All & Batten it down!! The lower North Island is expected to cop more of the same brutal weather that has already knocked over trucks, crippled trains, toppled trees and cut power to more than 9000 homes. A southerly front battered much of the country with rain and ferocious winds yesterday. Gusts of up to 150kmh in Wellington knocked trees and vegetation on to power lines, cutting electricity to about 2100 homes in the capitals northern suburbs and areas further north. A fallen tree also knocked out Tranz Metros overhead electrical lines near Taita about 3.30pm, cancelling some services on the Hutt Valley and Melling rail lines and delaying services to Wairarapa during the evening rush hour. The front came with a strong temperature drop that resulted in the mercury plunging from 18 degrees Celsius to 10C in Wellington about 2.30pm. Further north, the spring storm cut power to an estimated 5000 homes across Manawatu, Wairarapa and Tararua and about 2000 properties in Kapiti and Horowhenua. The fire service in Paraparaumu was kept busy responding to incidents of fences being blown over, conservatory panels blown in, and roof tiles and guttering ripped off homes. A steel garage near Kapiti Coast Airport was also ripped apart by strong gusts. In Palmerston North, fire crews had to secure loose signs in Broadway Ave and King St as well as a trampoline that became caught on a light pole in the suburbs. Wild winds gusting up to 70kmh also sparked power outages in Christchurch and a large vegetation fire in Heathcote Valley, which burned through about 110 metres of a macrocarpa hedge before it was brought under control. Auckland suffered chaotic power cuts yesterday, but thousands elsewhere in the North Island also remained without power overnight as lines companies scrambled to fix lines damaged by winds and fallen trees. Up to 3000 homes in Western Bay of Plenty, Manawatu, Wairarapa and Tararua had no power overnight as strong winds took down lines. Powerco had restored power to 6000 homes in those areas last night but were unable to fix the rest because of the wild weather. Winds of up to 70kmh also sparked two fires and caused power outages in Christchurch. Northwest gales were expected to become severe again in Wellington and Wairarapa tomorrow, as well as in Fiordland and throughout parts of the South Island on the eastern side of the Main Divide.
Posted on: Mon, 06 Oct 2014 17:54:50 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015