Winds cause havoc
Windows were smashed at New Plymouth’s museum and library during more than 24 hours of wild winds.
Falling branches caused havoc and power was cut to hundreds of homes during Sunday and yesterday in Taranaki, while there was a severe thunderstorm warning, a strong wind watch and a heavy rain watch in place.
Boarded-up windows could be seen at Puke Ariki museum and library after they were smashed in weather-related incidents, New Plymouth District Council (NPDC) Puke Ariki manager Kelvin Day said in an emailed statement. ‘‘There was some damage caused by the weather over the weekend including to windows in the museum,’’ Day said. ‘‘One window in the library was also broken.
‘‘No collection items or displays were damaged.’’
Richmond Cottage, which sits next to the museum, was also taped off yesterday.
‘‘A few branches were also blown down around Richmond Cottage,’’ Day said.
Gale force winds caused mass power outages overnight Sunday, with more than 400 properties still powerless yesterday afternoon. The winds that battered lower and central North Island brought down trees and branches on overhead lines, Powerco network operations manager Phil Marsh said in an emailed statement. ‘‘Taranaki has been hardest hit with damage to lines causing widespread outages,’’ Marsh said.
Properties in Inglewood, Stratford, Toko, Eltham, Opunake and Pihama were without power yesterday. Winds caused outages to more than 1200 customers across its electricity supply network.
‘‘There were also several hundred customers without supply in the Bay of Plenty, Whanganui and Wairarapa,’’ Marsh said.
Metservice meteorologist Kyle Lee said there had been a lot going on in Taranaki yesterday.
The strongest wind gust in the region was recorded at the New Plymouth Airport at 87kmh between 1pm-2pm. Dawson Falls saw the highest rainfall of the region with 83 millimetres over 18 hours – doubling the regional average which was around 40mm.
The severe thunderstorm warning, strong wind watch and heavy rain watch were all in place until last night but the weather looked to be improving. Lee said today could see showers and thunderstorms, but the weather would get better in the afternoon.