Roads were blocked, fences and roofs were damaged, and emergency service crews were run off their feet yesterday as strong winds hit Central Hawke’s Bay and Tararua.
A Strong Wind Warning, advising of wind gusts up to 130km/hr, was issued for both districts yesterday – with the Metservice recording gusts of 133km/hr along the Takapau Plains about midday.
Go Bus cancelled all school buses yesterday afternoon due to safety, and SH2 was closed around 11.15am for a time after powerlines were brought down by a falling tree.
Centralines power crews were kept busy after wide outages around the district. Crews were working in to early this morning to get power restored.
Roading crews were also busy through the day clearing trees and branches from a number of roads.
Waipukurau Fire Brigade’s Deputy Fire Chief, Glen Millar, said they attended a number of calls through the day – rescuing and securing trampolines, to a damaged garden shed, securing damaged fences, and securing the flashing and roofing on a commercial building in the town.
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The Strong Wind Warning for CHB and Tararua has been lifted, and replaced by a Strong Wind Watch.
Metservice says for the Tararua District, Hawkes Bay south of Hastings, and inland Hawkes Bay about and south of State Highway 5, westerly winds may approach severe gale in exposed areas, especially about the Takapau Plains.
The wind watch is in place until eleven this morning.
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There was a magnitude 4.0 quake centred near Porangahau early yesterday.
Located 5km northwest of Porangahau, the quake was felt around 2am, and was felt as far afield as Auckland.
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No one was injured after a truck tipped over on State Highway 2 yesterday.
The accident was reported about 12.20pm.
The truck tipped on SH2 between Norsewood and Dannevirke.
