Roads, power hit by bad weather

Tourists are battered by high winds and heavy rain in central Auckland today. Picture / Paul Smith

Police have warned drivers of treacherous road conditions and thousands of households have lost power as severe weather crosses the North Island.

In Auckland, heavy rain and wind on the roads is creating extremely bad conditions. North Shore, Mount Eden and Newmarket were among the areas worst affected.

Tauranga police said that due to torrential rain and high winds, conditions were poor along State Highway 29 over the Kaimai Ranges. There was also some surface flooding near the summit.

Up to 180mm of rain was forecast to fall in the ranges between now and midnight tonight. Between 70mm and 100mm was likely in parts of Northland and northern Auckland.

Northeasterly winds were also expected to reach gale force in northern areas, with possible severe gale gusts of 120km/h about exposed parts of the Auckland region from late morning through to this evening, Metservice said.

Power supply to approximately 7000 households in the Coromandel, Thames Valley and Tauranga was interrupted as a result of the extreme conditions.

Powerco Network Operations Manager Ross Dixon said crews had restored supply to around half of the affected customers by midday today, and hoped to restore power to the bulk of the remaining customers by this evening.

There were also earlier reports of blackouts in Henderson in Auckland, and power was lost from Wellsford to Coatesville, Vector said.

The strong winds in Auckland blew a truck onto its side on the Southern Motorway near Ramarama. No one was injured in the accident.

On the Northwestern Motorway, a truck crashed into the centre barrier just before the Lincoln Road off ramp. The driver was treated for injuries at Auckland Hospital.

The motorway was closed westbound from Te Atatu to Lincoln Road.

And in Orewa another truck was involved in a crash with a van near the Waiwera bridge on State Highway One. Injuries were not immediately known, but the road was likely to be blocked for several hours, police said.

The Met Service said the worst of the weather should pass by late tomorrow morning

People living in areas forecast to have the highest rainfall were advised to watch for rapidly rising rivers and streams and the potential for localised surface flooding.

Metservice said strong winds could cause damage to trees, powerlines, and lift insecure roofs, as well as making driving conditions hazardous for tall-sided vehicles, cars towing caravans and motorcyclists.


Inspector Kerry Watson at the police northern communications centre said: "The public are advised to avoid travel if possible due to weather and, if they need to travel, to use extreme caution due to the rain and wind."


- NEWSTALK ZB, HERALD ON LINE STAFF