MetService has issued an Orange Strong Wind Warning for Canterbury High Country for 8 hours from 4pm - midnight, 6 October.
Expect severe gale northwesterlies gusting 120 km/h in exposed places. There is minimal chance of upgrading to a Red Warning.
Damage to trees, powerlines, and unsecured structures possible. Driving may be difficult, especially for high-sided vehicles and motorcycles.Prepare your property by securing items that can be picked up by strong winds. Drive cautiously. Preparedness advice.
What to do:
- Take extra care while driving.
- Secure outdoor items and check your property for anything that could become airborne e.g. trampolines, outdoor furniture, rubbish bins.
- Stay informed via radio, local council Facebook pages, and the CDEM Canterbury website.
- Check any outdoor fire sites from the last two weeks. If you find any heat, smoke, or embers, pour water over the area until it is cold to the touch. Do not light any outdoor fires.
- Do not carry out activities that could cause sparks or ignition outdoors, e.g. using gas cookers.
If you find yourself without power, or need to report damage to power lines Call MainPower.
You can see the extent of current outages on this map.
If the power goes out, eat the food from your fridge first, then your freezer. Then eat the food in the cupboard or your emergency kit.
- Canterbury Emergency Management will be working with other agencies to monitor the situation closely.
- Updates will be shared across media channels including radio, in case of power outages.
- If you, your family, or your property are at risk at any time, call 111 immediately.