WELLINGTON, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Severe winds and heavy rains battered parts of New Zealand on Monday as an active weather front moved up the country, disrupting travel and prompting road closures.
A wind gust of about 200 km/h was recorded at Mount Hutt in Canterbury on the South Island at around 8 a.m. local time, according to MetService.
On the North Island, police closed part of Oriental Parade and Evans Bay Parade, and coastal roads in Wellington, the national capital, following reports of multiple cyclists falling and car wing mirrors being blown off, Radio New Zealand reported.
Fire and Emergency crews had responded to five wind-related callouts, including falling building materials and downed power lines, the report said.
Orange warnings for heavy rain were in place for parts of the South Island, with up to 250 mm of rain expected around the ranges of Westland. Strong wind warnings covered Wellington, parts of the South Island and other areas, with gusts of up to 120 km/h possible in exposed locations, according to MetService.
Most warnings were expected to expire by Tuesday morning, and there was a low to minimal chance of the orange wind and rain warnings being upgraded to red, MetService said. ■
