Trucks tossed, roofs fly in capital
Gale-force winds bowled trucks in Wellington, and officials pleaded with residents to stay away from the region's coastline amid monster swells and chaotic weather yesterday.
Fire and Emergency shift manager Mike Wanoa said brigades had more than 50 wind-related callouts as power lines came down, trees tumbled and roofs flew off houses.
Three trucks were blown over in an hour on State Highway 2 between Carterton and Masterton as winds hit 115km/h.
“Luckily, no one was injured,” Wanoa said.
But trampolines went flying and fences were knocked down.
The Metservice issued a wind warning and sightseers were warned to avoid lower North Island beaches as monster swells were whipped up.
The Kapiti Coast District Council said there was an increased risk of swells of up to 4.5 metres and waves across State Highway 1 between Paekakariki and Pukerua Bay. Council regulatory services manager James Jefferson said people must respect the conditions.
“As attractive as some people might find it to go down to the coast, my plea is that people stay away because it is wild out there . . . stay away from the beach, please.”
The strong winds moved north, but Wellingtonians were told heavy rain and thunderstorms would follow.
Metservice forecast 10mm to 15mm of rain an hour for northern Wellington last night.
The storm swept up the country, first hitting the South Island, causing power outages and fires.
As of 6.30am yesterday, 30 fire crews were fighting about 10 wildfires from South Canterbury to Hurunui.
According to Orion, about 2700 Canterbury homes lost power.
Two large fires also burned trees in central and southern Hawke’s Bay, as winds of more than 100km/h roared north. Northwesterly winds reached 109km/h in Mahia, 96km/h in Te Kauwaea-ma¯ui/cape Kidnappers, 91km/h on the Takapau Plains and 70km/h in Ahuriri.
Metservice meteorologist Tui Mcinnes said it would stay quite gusty today but winds tomorrow would be “calm by comparison”. The strong winds brought a dust storm of several hectares in size to Havelock North.
Today’s weather is likely to be much calmer and warmer across the country, but Weatherwatch says the unsettled spring weather will continue into next week, with heavy rain and snow in parts of the south. A high brings drier, more settled weather from Tuesday, ahead of a sub-tropical low expected in the north on Friday.