High wind creates havoc across Otago

Winds gusting up to 172kmh created havoc for emergency services in Dunedin and the Taieri yesterday afternoon.

A front moving across the country brought severe northwest gales to the area, knocking down trees, power and telephone poles and lines, lifting roofs and damaging properties.

• Family flees as winds lash home 

• Narrow escape as tree downed

A MetService spokesman said average wind speeds neared hurricane force, and winds gusted to 172kmh (6pm) on Swampy Summit, 117kmh (7pm) at Dunedin International Airport, 76kmh (6pm) in the Dunedin City centre and 94kmh (6pm) at Taiaroa Head. Gusts of up to 67kmh were also recorded in Oamaru and Wanaka at 6pm.

Middlemarch recorded an average wind speed of about 70kmh at 4pm. Gusts could easily have exceeded 100kmh, he said.

An Air New Zealand spokesman said several flights were cancelled and many others were severely delayed because of "extremely potent crosswinds" at Dunedin International Airport.

Dunedin police and fire services were inundated with calls from residents affected by the wind all over the city and the Taieri.

Senior Sergeant Kelvin Lloyd said the Central Police Station received hundreds of calls: "We've been inundated with calls about trees falling, power lines down and roofs being blown off."

Snr Sgt Lloyd said there had been many calls about a crane swinging around at the Regent Theatre construction site. However, the owner of the crane allayed fears it might topple, by saying it was designed to swing in strong winds.

Many roads in the city were reduced to one lane by fallen trees and power lines. Parts of Highcliff Rd and Portobello Rd were closed several times as large trees fell.

A dozen cars were trapped for about two hours on Portobello Rd between fallen trees at Grassy Point and Challis Point. The trees were removed and the road was reopened to one lane of traffic about 9pm.

Water to about 300 houses in Opoho was cut when a tree fell on a water main about 10pm.