An overturned truck, fallen trees and power lines blocking roads were just some of the havoc caused by strong winds in Otago and Southland yesterday.
The meteorological service expected the westerly gales to last until the early morning today.
Gusts of 120kmh to 130kmh affected exposed parts of Dunedin, Clutha, Southland and Stewart Island.
The high winds forced the cancellation of the motorcycle beach racing event at Oreti Beach yesterday, part of Invercargill's big Burt Munro Challenge events.
The Fire Service reported a truck driver escaped unharmed when his truck blew over in Wyndham at the intersection of Leonard Rd and Wyndham Letter Box Rd about 3.30pm bringing down some power lines, but further detail was not available.
Senior Sergeant Dave Raynes, of Invercargill, said the winds meant much "greenery" was blowing about on roads.
About 2pm police were surprised to see a car door blow down the road past the station.
They had been able to retrieve it and find its owner.
Despite the large numbers of motorcyclists in the city for the weekend, police did not have any concerns about their riding behaviour in the conditions.
Snr Sgt Raynes said there were few motorcyclists to be seen on the roads.
Those there were going "pretty slowly".
There were several reports of fallen trees, including one at Park Rd in Milton in the early evening which fell on power lines and a boat.
Earlier in the day, fallen trees caused the temporary closure of the northbound lane of State Highway 1 north of Waitati about 2pm.
Incidents involving power lines included a leaning power pole in Reid Rd, South Dunedin, early yesterday evening and a tarpaulin wrapped around power lines in the Seddon St-Totara St area of Ravensbourne.
A fallen tree also blocked State Highway 1 by Bank St, in North Dunedin about 7.45pm.
Drivers of campervans, caravans and other high-sided vehicles were also warned to take particular care on SH1 between Milton and Gore, State Highway 87 Kyeburn to Middlemarch and State Highway 8, Raes Junction to Milton.
The MetService was forecasting the winds, which have also been affecting Nelson, parts of the Wairarapa, Hawkes Bay, Bay of Plenty and the Coromandel Peninsula should gradually ease today.
