Billboards torn loose as 120kmh winds hit Wellington

[JennyLeez]

High Gusts for our local Wellington stations today so far:
Belmont - 42.6
Lower Hutt - 50.0
Kelson - 60.1
Maungaraki - 51.9
Ngaio - 56.2

Cars and firefighters were almost hit by falling debris as strong winds tore Wellington billboards loose.

MetService recorded gusts of 124kmh at the Rimutaka Hill summit, and 120kmh at Mt Kaukau and the suburb of Kelburn on Thursday morning.

A billboard facade came loose at the top of New Zealand Post House, sending a row of lights crashing 15 storeys onto a fire truck below.

The light fell just after 9am and narrowly missed officers and moving vehicles on Waterloo Quay, along Wellington's busy waterfront.

Photos and video here:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/88336575/billboard-torn-loose-as-120kmh-winds-hit-wellington

Attached below:
A fireman removes a fallen light from a damaged sign from the New Zealand Post building.

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[Babs]

That's why I am not venturing outside today especially near the big willow tree