High winds have lifted roofs and brought down powerlines overnight in Auckland, and motorists can expect widespread disruption today. Video / NZ Herald
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High winds have lifted roofs and brought down powerlines overnight in Auckland, and motorists can expect widespread disruption today. Video / NZ Herald
NOW PLAYING • Focus: Strong winds cause destruction in Auckland
High winds have lifted roofs and brought down powerlines overnight in Auckland, and motorists can expect widespread disruption today. Video / NZ Herald
Many Aucklanders are facing a morning without power as wild winds and rain cause havoc across the region.
Fallen trees have damaged houses and cars and brought down power lines - cutting power to dozens of areas across Auckland.
Motorists face widespread disruption and are being warned to expect delays,with lower speed limits imposed on the Harbour Bridge as wind gusts hit 110km/h.
Around 30 shipping containers have been blown over in South Auckland, a witness says.
🌬 Windy in Auckland last night! 🌬 Widespread gusts across Auckland in excess of 100 km/h, but the wind will gradually ease throughout today. Details at https://t.co/Yjbq0jxdqz ^Tui pic.twitter.com/kfEex7D5cc
A tree uprooted in Auckland's Domain during the storm. Photo / RNZ, Marika Khabazi
"Given the weather forecast for today, we may need to stand our crews down for their own safety if the wind picks up again," Simunac said.
Members of the public are being asked to "please bear with our crews" if an outage happens in their area.
Just before midday, Vector said crews had been "working to restore power as quickly and safely as possible".
"Since 8am this morning, a number of areas have had power restored and work will continue throughout the day to get the power back on for more customers across the region," Vetor said.
UPDATE 10:20AM Wind gusts are no longer severe, however occasional strong gusts continue. 4 lanes in each direction continue on the Harbour Bridge. Allow extra time for journeys south on #SH1. Check current travel times on our website here: https://t.co/jrKkgDt8Ki ^TP https://t.co/z2i5mwnWwq
— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) August 2, 2021
"While the weather is expected to improve this afternoon, we thank the public in advance for their patience while our crews work on the repairs."
It reminded people to call 111 and stay a safe distance away if they discovered downed power lines.
Counties Power said the network on the western side of the Franklin and Papakura region is severely affected by the extreme weather.
"There will be long resolution times as crews work as safely as they can out there in these high winds across many outages. Please prepare for a morning without power."
A map provided by Counties Power showing the outages in the Franklin region. Image / Supplied
Fire crews have been called to more than 100 weather-related incidents since the storm began at 3am.
Northern fire communications shift manager Paul Radden said most of the calls have been to powerlines and trees coming down and roofs lifted.
Fire and Emergency respond to trees down in Mt Roskill. Photo / Hayden Woodward
A SkyCity spokeswoman said their rigging team had checked for damage to the Sky Tower early this morning. However, no damage was found.
The Sky Tower has been designed to withstand storms and winds gusting up to 200km/h, which can result in a sway at the top of the concrete shaft of about one metre, its website reads.
In Mt Roskill, a car was destroyed when a large tree smashed onto it. Photo / Hayden Woodward
A strong wind watch is in place for Northland, Auckland, Great Barrier Island and Coromandel Peninsula north of Thames and Tairua until 2pm today.
"Southwest winds may approach severe gale in exposed places, especially about the west of Auckland."
Work is under way to remove a large tree blocking Walmsley Rd between Mahunga Dr and the SH20 motorway interchange. Delays and diversions are expected for some time.
'Red alert' for Harbour Bridge
A "red alert" has been issued specifically for the Harbour Bridge where gusts could reach 90km/h between midnight and 3am, and up to 110km/h between 3am and midday.
Traffic heading into the city centre on the Northwestern Motorway was backed up this morning as people used the alternative route.
Around the Auckland Airport, winds were gusting up to 107km/h between 3am and 4am, Bakker said.
Overhead motorway signs are telling motorists heading to the Harbour Bridge to be "extra careful" - with a specific warning for high vehicles and motorcyclists.
UPDATE 9:40AM This section of Mt Smart Rd remains closed while the fallen tree is being removed. Allow extra time for diversions and delays in the area. ^TP https://t.co/Trbia4LXDt
— Auckland Transport Travel Alerts (@AT_TravelAlerts) August 2, 2021
UPDATE 9:30AM All lanes are now OPEN again on Pakuranga Rd. Allow extra time as congestion in the Pakuranga area slowly eases. ^TP https://t.co/TQvolLDBty
— Auckland Transport Travel Alerts (@AT_TravelAlerts) August 2, 2021
Several suburbs are without electricity, including part of the Northwestern Motorway, which has no power between about Te Atatū and Western Springs.
Police said a truck and trailer unit blew over on its side on the Southwestern Motorway, near Rimu Rd, about 3.40am.
No injuries were reported, a spokeswoman said. However, two of the three lanes were blocked for a time and all lanes were closed as the truck and trailer were moved off the road by authorities. All lanes are now open.
A tree fallen through a fence in Mt Roskill. Photo / Hayden Woodward
A large tree fell onto a vehicle on Glass Rd in Mt Roskill and trees have fallen through homes, on to decks and across roads.
A woman in Glenbrook, south of Auckland, described her deck lifting up and down and the house swaying early this morning.
"I haven't had any sleep. The whole house was rocking like a boat."
The woman, who asked to stay anonymous, said a tree had come down on her house during the night. No damage was done to the house but half of a large portable pool was flattened and the chicken coop was gone, she said.
"That chicken coop is so heavy. We can hardly lift it when we clean it."
A yacht run aground on the eastern side of Saint Heliers Bay. Photo / Jason Oxenham
NZTA Waka Kotahi said delays and cancellations to public transport services and disruptions across the city's highways were possible.
Severe Winds overnight have impacted the roading network across Auckland. Response crews are attending multiple incidents including fallen trees and associated power outages affecting traffic signals. Please be safe and drive with extra care this morning. ^TP pic.twitter.com/vGvJSzBPTV
— Auckland Transport Travel Alerts (@AT_TravelAlerts) August 2, 2021
Pakuranga Rd is blocked by a fallen tree and a tree has fallen on Mill Rd near its intersection with Redoubt Road in Papakura.
Auckland Transport said at 6.35am that a fallen tree was blocking westbound lanes towards Panmure Bridge after Millen Ave. One lane has since reopened.
FINAL UPDATE for Train Disruptions - Power has been restored on the main line. SOUTHERN line is now operating all the way between Britomart and Papakura. EASTERN line is now operating all the way between Manukau and Britomart. ONEHUNGA line is operating to schedule. ^KY pic.twitter.com/AkX10YZLUg
— Auckland Transport Travel Alerts (@AT_TravelAlerts) August 2, 2021
People travelling in the area are told to delay their journeys or allow for extra time this morning for diversions.
The line issues are also affecting southern line services from Papakura to Britomart, which will now travel via Newmarket.
Just after 7am, Auckland Transport said all southern line train services were suspended because of another overhead line issue at Ōtāhuhu.
Earlier this morning, the service between Papakura and Britomart had been detouring the area, but they are now cancelled.
SOUTHERN Line Train Disruptions - Due to an overhead line issues near Penrose, all Southern Line services from Britomart to Papakura are operating non-stopping via the Eastern Line to Otahuhu. All Southern Line Servcies from Papakura to Britomart will travel via Newmarket. ^KY pic.twitter.com/E6fgyJsQXw
— Auckland Transport Travel Alerts (@AT_TravelAlerts) August 2, 2021
Auckland Transport cancelled all Northcote Pt services until further notice because of the weather, although the 7.35am service between Auckland and Birkenhead and the 7.55am between Birkenhead to Auckland were cancelled because of a mechanical issue. A vessel break-down also delayed the Waiheke to Auckland ferry by 10 minutes.
Vector is responding to outages in Whangaparāoa Peninsula, Torbay, Milford, Birkenhead, Pāremoremo and Murrays Bay.
Much of Dairy Flat and Helensville, northwest of the city, are also in the dark. Further north, a lot of Mahurangi is without power.
The Vector website shows most of Te Atatū Peninsula, in West Auckland is without power.
A tree down in a property in Glen Eden. Photo / Supplied
A witness told the Herald he spotted powerlines arcing in Te Atatū and debris from fallen trees in and around Te Atatū Peninsula.
He described the difficulty of driving down the Northwestern Motorway about 4am, saying: "I was driving straight and I could just feel the car being pushed."
Other parts of West Auckland badly affected are Massey West, Whenuapai West, Waimauku, Oratia, Laingholm, Titirangi, Huapai and Kumeu.
There are also power cuts in parts of Westmere, Henderson and Mt Wellington.
In the south, there are outages in parts of Ōtāhuhu and Māngere East.
And out east, there appear to be outages in Bucklands Beach, Shamrock Park, Maraetai, and the area south of Beachlands.
It says it has response teams, including specialist arborists, responding to outages throughout the night, but they may stop work if conditions become dangerous.
Vector says anyone who loses power should report through Vector's website.
In Coromandel, a tree is blocking Tapu Coroglen Rd just 2km from Coroglen, making it tricky for most cars to get around.
Tree crashes into house
A tree has crashed through a kitchen in the Christchurch suburb of Cashmere.
Fire and Emergency say one crew was called out just after 5.30am to the property on Valley Rd.
