Strong winds in Auckland down power lines, cut power

Photo / Chris Loufte

Residents of Point Chevalier in Auckland have had power restored after strong winds caused vegetation to hit power lines.

Vector spokeswoman Sandy Hodge said Vector believed trees or plant matter had come on to power lines in Point Chevalier, cutting power to 1054 customers in the area about 10.30am.

Vector restored power before 12pm.

The power cut comes after hundreds of Aucklanders lost power over night in the strong winds.

In Langholm, in Auckland's west, 147 households were without power from 2.30am.

Vector initially said the fault was expected to be fixed by 11am but later pushed that back to 3pm.

In Kaipara Flats there were 111 customers affected by a feeder fault at 8pm and 55 were still without power at lunchtime today.

MetService has warned the Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty and Gisborne and Nelson could expect heavy rain of up to 140mm accumulating throughout the day and the chance of thunderstorms.

In the Coromandel Peninsula rain was expected to become heavy early this morning and ease by the afternoon. MetService warned thunderstorms could be possible and the rain could peak at 25mm per hour.

The Bay of Plenty could expect up to 140mm to fall today, especially about the ranges. The rain in Gisborne was expected to become heavy around midday and up to 120mm could accumulate.

WeatherWatch analysts said as winds ease in the upper North Island heavy showers would fall and could contain thunderstorms.

WeatherWatch warned the storms could contain funnel clouds or small tornadoes in the upper North Island and Waikato.

Temperatures and humidity would increase today as the winds turn north to northeast.

Rough conditions in Auckland harbour will ease today as winds turn more northerly and ease late morning.

It's not all gloomy - conditions would improve from now until Christmas, WeatherWatch said.