Auck. storm causes widespread damage

Press, 23 October 1989, Page 7

Auck. storm causes widespread damage

PA Auckland Holidaymakers who went north in search of sunny Labour Day week-end weather were disappointed with heavy rain and high winds, which caused widespread damage in the Auckland area. Two cold fronts belted the central and upper North Island, with roofs ripped off Auckland houses, trees uprooted, and boats smashed on rocks. The offending westerly frontal system was expected to have blown itself out to sea off the east coast by today. Forecasters predicted showers today, with winds dropping to about 20 knots and fine periods increasing. At the height of the storm, wind gusts of up to 80 knots were recorded on Auckland Harbour Bridge. In the atrocious conditions:

• Roofs were torn from three West Auckland houses, and numerous others suffered tile and window damage. • Power blackouts lasted more than four hours in some Auckland suburbs after trees fell on lines.

® Six boats broke their moorings in Waitemata Harbour. Two of the vessels were battered on to the rock sea wall along Tamaki Drive. • Seventy-nine of the 155 yachts entered in the Coastal Classic race between Auckland and Russell pulled out before reaching Whangarei Heads. © A small launch capsized off Urquharts Bay, near Whangarei, dumping four people into the broiling swell. One of the four, a middle-aged woman, was flown by helicopter to Whangarei Base Hospital suffering from hypothermia. Auckland firefighters were kept particularly busy, attending 48 storm damage call-outs within six hours.

The worst hit areas were the western suburbs of Avondale, Glen Eden and Titirangi. The corrugated iron roof of one house was blown across the road and on to the lawn of another property. The Fire Service helped residents to cover exposed roofs and remove trees which had toppled on to houses and roads. .