Windstorm 'thumps' Waimarino

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 1, Issue 7, 19 July 1983, Page 1

Windstorm 'thumps' Waimarino

Parts of the Waimarino experienced a fierce windstorm on Saturday night 9-10 July. Waiouru, Ohakune, Raetihi and National Park all reported exceptionally high winds — in some places exceeding 60 knots — resulting in some damage. But Whakapapa Village and Skifield surprisingly escaped _with only gentle zephyrs of a mere 10 knots.

The winds and rain (which had brought floods to Nelson province and 87 knot winds to Cape Reinga) swept through the Central North Island in one of the most violent windstorms in recent times — many local residents said that they couldn't remember a time when they had such a sleepless night worrying about roofs, fences, sheds, gardens and trees etc. The winds were mainly fFom a north-easterly direction but, because of the local topography around the mountain, the wind appeared to be gusting in all directions which gave rise to the general comment that 'it certainly was a rough old night!' Power blackout • The first indication of trouble to coriie was a power blackout soon after 5pm on Saturday evening. One of the main NZED supply lines north of Ohakune was damaged and all substations between Ongarue (north of Taumarunui) and Bunnythorpe, including National Park, Raetihi/Ohakune and Waiouru, were without power for about an hour. Power was gradually restored progressively

throughout the area by bringing in alternative lines but Waiouru remained in darkness for nearly 3 hours — it was finally restored at 7.50pm. Waiouru: Major David Roseveare 2iC Ops at the ATG, reported that the American Task Force currently camped at Helwan for their winter training "lost a lot of canvas" in this their second "big blow" since-they arrived in Waiouru two weeks ago. None of the permanent buildings either in the ATG camp and residential area nor at Helwan, just north of Waiouru on the Desert Road, were affeeted but there was a lot of cleaning up to do the following day within the temporary 'tent city' that had been established for the Americans as their main base camp. Many of the troops, all from Hawaii, were out on field exercises that night . . it was those who had been left behind at the main base camp who experienced the full brunt of the wind. A reliably reported story of how the Americans continued on page 4

continued from page 1. found two rabbits which had been lifted bodily from the ground and impaled on some wire fencing is circulating in Waiouru. The MOT meteorological officer at Waiouru, Mr Bob Taylor, reports that their

wind recording instrument — the anemometer — , which is designed to record winds up to 60 knots on one scale and 90 knots on another was damaged by the wind so no recordings are available! The shaft was bent and the generator cups broken so it can be assumed the winds were well in excess of 60 knots at least, said Mr Taylor. Ohakune In and around Ohakune several reports of damage and a further blackout were reported. Soon after midnight a wattle tree in Goldfinch Street fell across the 11,000 volt power lines and brought them down. Most of the township and surrounding areas were plunged into darkness until KCEPB staff progressively restored power up until 1.50am. Other damage around town included a newly constructed garage in Mangawhero Terrace Extension which was 'flattened', an old farm shed on the outskirts of town which was all but 'demolished' (sheets of \yall and roofing iron were scattered up to 100 metres away in neighboring paddocks and properties), and a ski chalet in the Turoa Alpine Village was repOrted to have lost part of its roof. Minor damage included workshop doors being ripped off in Foyle and Burns Streets, a wind torn sign outside the Ohakune Hotel, broken caravan windows, fallen trees and bent fences. Ohakune Borough works foreman John Alexander and parks and reserves supervisor Grant Drabble said that they had plenty of cleaning up to do around

the town on Monday. Up on the Turoa Skifield a handheld anemometer whose guage is designed to measure wind speeds up to 60 knots was reported by Turoa staff to have the needle constantly pressed against the maximum reading, whilst lower down the Mountain Road, park ranger John Lythgoe, also using a handheld anemometer, recordj^ steady winds of betw^^ 45-50 knots. Raetihi Kevin Miller, Borough foreman, said that despite the . very strong winds no reports of damage had been received from residents or businesses round town. This had surprised him because judging from the force of the weekend winds he had expected his staff would have been busy on Monday. National Park Kevin Murcott, local spokesman for the Taumarunui County Council's works branch said that the winds were "really bad and easily up to 40 knots" but no damage was reported. "We often winds like that at Natio^^ Park" he said.