Storm gives region a blast | Wairarapa News | Local News in Wairarapa

SOME homes in Wairarapa were still without power this morning after a southerly storm, with winds gusting up 100km/h, ripped through the valley during the weekend.

According to Powerco network operations manager Charles Kaka, about 300 households lost power as a result of lines coming down in the high winds.

Worst affected were houses near Greytown, where power was lost shortly after midday yesterday and not restored until 7.15am today.

There were also some power losses at Te Ore Ore yesterday, which were restored within an hour and power flickers in the Chapel Street area.

Mr Kaka said there was a scattering of houses throughout the valley which still had the power off. These problems would be fixed today, he said.

A Sunday of cold, squally showers forced an early close to the annual Mauriceville fair.

A Met Service forecaster said gusts of up to 140km/h hit parts of Wellington late last night as the galeforce southerly hit its peak.

Winds of up to 110km/h prevented planes flying in and out of Wellington international airport just before 7pm.

Forecasters said that although the southerlies would die out later today more high winds are on the way for Wairarapa, with strong westerlies developing and continuing until Friday, when the weather would turn southerly again.

Meanwhile a Pahiatua man, 27, was seriously injured after falling from a roof yesterday.

The Square Trust rescue helicopter was called to Pahiatua at 6pm.

The man had been on his roof, when he fell 4.5m to the ground, receiving suspected chest and spinal injuries.

He was flown to the Palmerston North hospital in a serious condition.