Strong winds hinder crews battling multiple fires in South Island
4 Apr, 2021 03:31 AM
3 minutes to read
Emergency services at the scene of the hedge fire in Waimea Valley Rd. Photo / ODT
NZ Herald
Strong winds are preventing helicopters from being deployed to several rural fires in the South Island.
On-call Region 5 Commander Keith McIntosh said resources are stretched in Otago and Southland where a regional co-ordination centre had been activated to monitor the situation.
He said at one stage this afternoon, 37 appliances and tankers were involved across the region.
Fire crews fight three separate fires in Southland
At 2.30pm, crews were fighting two fires within 5km of each other in the Waimea Valley, with another near Dacre.
Easter weather: Timaru hotter than Rarotonga, gale-force wind warning for drivers
4 Apr, 2021 02:25 AM
3 minutes to read
Timaru reached an April record-high of 30.6 degrees this Easter Sunday. Photo / Mark Mitchell
NZ Herald
Easter weekend holidaymakers in the South Island and eastern North Island have hit the jackpot with uncanny tropical temperatures, but they re coupled with strong wind warnings and watches.
Timaru has reached a record-breaking 30.6C today. It s the highest April temperature since records began in the city in 1962, according to Metservice. It s warmer than Rarotonga s 29 degree-high, and it could climb higher by the end of the day.
The strong northwesterly winds across the Southern Alps really turned up the heat at Timaru Airport today. For more temperature go to https://t.co/Yjbq0jxdqz ^AB pic.twitter.com/8SUhRZkBbs MetService (@MetService) April 4, 2021
If you re able to go above and beyond to help us during this important time, please consider making an additional financial contribution. Click here to contribute.
Many windy days are the result of passing storm fronts. In addition, daytime heating and evening cooling of the desert floor may act to create local winds. Daytime warm air rises and is replaced with cooler air that drains through surrounding canyons, mountain passes, and arroyos.
Windblown air pulls more moisture from the soil than would otherwise evaporate in still air. Hot, dry air blowing around plants and people dehydrates them, creating acute water needs. This is where good water management becomes important.
Keppel Prince boilermaker leads last-ditch effort to save mates wind farm jobs
SatSaturday 3
AprApril 2021 at 11:59pm
Dean Wombwell (second from right) travelled with more than 50 fellow steel workers to a protest in Melbourne.
(
Print text only
Cancel
When boilermaker Dean Wombwell packs his bag and flies to Canberra next week, he ll be thinking of 42 mates back home who just lost their jobs.
Key points:
Keppel Prince fired 15 per cent of its workforce after failing to secure two regional wind farm contracts
The company says a lack of federal mandates on local products is to blame
Workers are flying to Canberra to lobby the company that won the contract to include local parts and save jobs
Holiday Weekend Forecast wnem.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from wnem.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.