Cyclone Hola turns out to be a bit of a damp squib in Northland

Inclement weather in Northland was a blessing in disguise for this surfer at Woolleys Bay. Photo / Michael Cunningham

Surfers were probably the only ones to experience some weather-related action in Northland as Cyclone Hola turned out to be a bit of a damp squib.

Hola was predicted to bring plenty of storm action to Northland yesterday, but only glanced the region as it passed.

Northland civil defence spokesman Murray Soljak said apart from minor power outages and flooding, territorial authorities had not had weather-related issues reported to them yesterday.

Russell Rd at Punaruku was flooded and impassable at 4pm yesterday while contractors were clearing a large willow tree that blocked Mangapai Caves Rd.

There was a slip on Pigs Head Rd at Whakapara but the road was passable.

Mr Soljak said rain had been steady throughout the day but overall rainfall totals were relatively low and there were no reports of major flooding.

He said according to MetService reports, the weather system would start moving away from Northland last night. With gusts peaking at 117km/h at the MetService rain radar site near Kaeo it was wind that did the most damage.

Downed lines or branches blown into power lines caused several outages across the Mid-North, including the Inlet Rd and Wiroa Rd areas, Kerikeri, and in Waimate North, where nearly 300 households were affected.

By late yesterday only five homes in the Taheke area were still without power.

The heaviest rain in the 24 hours to 4pm yesterdaywas at Oakura Bay which, according to Northland Regional Council figures, received 70.5mm.

That was followed by Puhipuhi (60.5mm), Marsden Pt (53.5mm) and Robert St, Whangarei (50.4mm). Once again the rain mostly bypassed Pouto Pt (2.5mm).