Raging gales cause fires overnight in South Island

There were raging gales with winds gusting above 100km/h at times. Photo / Supplied

Firefighters battled a number of blazes stoked by gusty winds in the South Island overnight.

Raging gales - gusting above 100km/h at times - battered the South Island yesterday, with a strong wind warning in place for Canterbury, Southland, Otago and Marlborough.

The winds were expected to die down overnight or early today.

Firefighters were called to about a 15 weather-related jobs last night, largely scrub fires, as a result of the wild weather.

Fire Service spokesman Andrew Norris said it was a relatively quiet night for firefighters - after the winds died down.

One of the last vegetation fires crews went to was caused by a bonfire that flared up in the wind about 10pm last night on Montalto Rd in the Ashburton district.

"There was no major problems there," Mr Norris said.

An earlier bonfire had also flared up in a residential area, causing crews to be called to Kaikainui Lane in central Christchurch.

The blaze took hold about 8.15pm and took less than an hour to get under control.

At Cone Rd, winds spread fire into a large dairy farm stockfeed fire which was brought under control about 9pm and rural units attended a grass fire spread by 40km/h winds on Tinwald Westerfield Mayfield Rd at 7.45pm.

A blaze on Hinds George Rd in Ashburton spread about 75m along a hedge in the winds, Mr Norris said.

"Gusty winds were a bit of a problem, but it was extinguished with no problems," he said.

The stormy weather caused power outages and roads to close as the strong winds gusting up to 120km/h and recent heavy rain caused a tree to collapse on to powerlines near Clinton.

In Gore, part of State Highway 94 was also closed for several hours after winds gusting up to 120km/h brought down power lines at the intersection with Irwell St at 4.50pm.

The highway was also closed between Te Anau and Milford Sound on Wednesday because of the stormy condition.

Winds were clocked at 120km/h in Balclutha and more than 100km/h in Dunedin but started to ease from 6pm, MetService meteorologist Karl Loots said.

Heavy rain and gusty winds are putting trucks and other high vehicles at risk of blowing over on roads in central New Zealand.

Police Inspector Dave White said extremely bad weather was making driving on State Highway 1 north of Levin very treacherous.

There was heavy rain, mist and extremely high winds with gusts almost blowing trucks over on the road, he said.

Drivers should exercise extreme caution if driving through the area, Mr White said.

The wind was expected to settle down this morning, but heavy rain was waiting in the wings to take its place.

It is still set to be a wet Labour Weekend - with a front moving across southern and central New Zealand on Thursday and Friday, possibly bringing heavy rain, and creeping on to northern parts of the North Island by Saturday.

MetService said the front was expected to move away from New Zealand late on Sunday as a northward-moving ridge spreads across the South Island.

- Additional reporting: Otago Daily Times

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