Hot and windy weather is forecast for this weekend, with a wind warning in place for the Canterbury High Country from 10pm Saturday. See how you can prepare.
MetService has issued an Orange strong wind warning for the Canterbury High Country and foothills for 21hrs from 10pm Saturday, 10 January - 7pm Sunday, 11 January.
Expect severe gale northwesterlies gusting 130 km/h in exposed places. There is minimal chance of upgrading to a Red Warning. MetService has also issued a Strong Wind Watch for Canterbury east of the foothills for 9 hours from 5am - 2pm Sunday 11 January.
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.
Extreme fire danger:
- Do not light any outdoor fires during this period.
- Canterbury Fire and Emergency are suspending all active fire permits from 11:59pm Friday 9 January until 8am Monday 12 January.
- 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 carry out activities that could cause sparks or ignition outdoors, e.g. using gas cookers.
Driving conditions:
- Take extra care while driving. Driving may be difficult, especially for high-sided vehicles and motorcycles.
- There is also a Heavy Rain Warning for the West Coast. If you are travelling that way, prepare for surface flooding and slips.
- Visit NZTA's Journey Planner for highway conditions.
Prepare your property:
- 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.
Protect yourself from the heat:
Extreme heat can cause health problems. Find ways to prepare for the heat on Health New Zealand's website.
Other advice:
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.