Wild weather in North Island New Zealand

Summer storm brings snow, wild weather

RadioNZ,

22 January, 2017

Wild weather has caused a window to blow out in Wellington, and cut power to thousands of customers across the North Island.

Around 30cm of snow fell at Cardrona Ski Field. Photo: Facebook: Cardrona Ski Field

MetService meteorologist Erick Brenstrum said conditions had settled down in most places badly affected by heavy rain and winds over the past day.

More than 250mm of rain fell in parts of the Hill Country and Western Nelson, and a further 200mm on Mount Taranaki.

The Cardrona Skifield, near Queenstown, had about 30cm of snow fall.

Some flights out of Wellington were cancelled this afternoon, with winds gusting up to 140km/h.

A large group of students had to be evacuated from the Whiteria Performance Centre on Vivian Street in Wellington after strong winds blew out a pane of glass onto the road below.

No one was injured in the incident.

A section of Vivian Street from Taranaki Street to Cambridge Terrace will remain closed this evening, as a glazier was unable to repair the window in the strong winds.

Detours are in place.

A damaged window can be seen at Whitireia Performing Arts Centre. Photo: RNZ / Emile Donovan

Around 900 Powerco customers are still without power in the central North Island, with around 700 affected in Taranaki and 200 in Manawatu.

The company's service delivery manager, Dave Hammond, said crews would continue to work until 10pm, when it was expected power would be restored to most customers.

He said 5300 customers were initially without power, with Taranaki the worst hit area.

The strong winds brought down this large tree in Taumata Street, Sandringham. Photo: RNZ / Rowan Quinn

Most of the 3000 households affected by power outages in Auckland are expected to have their power restored this evening.

Vector spokesperson Melanie Tuala said a car had hit a power pole in Maraetai and seven power poles needed to be replaced on Marsden Ave in Balmoral after a tree fell on them.

She said each power pole takes four to six hours to replace so it could be some time.

Areas affected spanned from Papakura to near Mangawhai and Kumeu to Flat Bush. Waiheke Island is also affected.

Around 15,000 households were without power early this morning.

A man in his forties was seriously injured when he was hit by a falling tree while driving on the Southern Motorway in Auckland.

He was taken to Middlemore Hospital and was in a stable condition this morning.

This NZ Steel sand extractor washed up on Ngamotu Beach, Port Taranaki, New Plymouth. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin

Nelson region hit with heavy rain

Strong winds and heavy rain overnight swelled rivers in the Nelson and Tasman region 153mm of rain falling in the Waingaro Valley over five hours.

Waingaro River and the neighbouring Anatoki River reached 10-year flood levels, their third-highest since flow monitoring began in 1979.

Upper Takaka River reached levels only experienced eight times in the past 50 years. Road closure warnings were issued for the State Highway 63, and either side of Takaka Township.

Road closure signs were also placed at Ferntown on the road to Pakawau.

SH60 between Riwaka and Collingwood reopened but drivers were warned it could close again.