Gust explodes car windows

SHATTERED: Jill Willmott's car windows were blown out by wind in Featherston.PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Jill Willmott of Featherston had just dropped her 3-year-old off at daycare when the windows of the car she was driving "just exploded".

The incident happened when a massive gust of wind struck near the intersection of Bell and Birdwood Sts yesterday.

She said it was lucky her daughter wasn't in the car as some of the glass had hit her face and neck when the windows blew in.

"I needed some petrol so I filled up and as I came back on to Birdwood St, just at the junction before St Teresa's School, a massive gust just came in," Mrs Willmott said.

"I felt my car move and then all the passenger windows blew in and then the driver side windows blew out.

"It just exploded.

"I've never experienced anything like that."

Mrs Willmott said it felt like the car was going to lift up when the gust hit.

"It was quite scary.

"It's advisable for people to stay inside."

Yesterday police warned motorists to avoid driving around Wairarapa unless it was absolutely necessary.

Several other wind-related incidents occurred in the region, including a tree falling on to State Highway 2 near Tauherenikau, and a truck trailer blowing over on SH2 near Mt Bruce.

On Sunday night gusts reached 146km/h on the Rimutaka Hill Rd, decreasing to 130km/h early yesterday morning. The driver of a car on the road reported being blown 360 degrees by a gust. The road was closed around midday yesterday.