Wind gusts up to 104kmh in the Whareratas

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Anyone driving over the Wharerata Range between Gisborne and Wairoa will have been aware of the strong south-westerly winds of Monday and yesterday.

Instruments in the Wharerata hills recorded gusts up to 104kmh on Monday, peaking around 11.30pm that night.

The hill country south of Gisborne was most exposed to the gale force winds, lasting through to Tuesday, and still around 90kmh in the morning.

Closer to Gisborne, exposed coastal areas also felt the blast, with a maximum gust of 111.7kmh recorded at Pouawa at 4pm on Monday afternoon.

Māhia recorded a top gust of 94kmh while Gisborne, more sheltered from the weather recorded a top gust of 63kmh at the airport. - RH