WELLINGTON, New Zealand, Sept. 18 (UPI) -- A massive wind and rain storm battered northern New Zealand late Friday, flooding roads and knocking out power to some 30,000 homes, officials said.
Two cold-weather fronts from the northwest spawned the storm system that washed over the region, the country's Metservice weather agency told Radio New Zealand.
At the storm's peak, electric utility Powerco Network operations manager Phil Marsh said around 52,000 customers lost power, Sky News Australia reported.
The coast guard told Radio New Zealand hurricane-force winds of more than 87 mph were recorded in one northern location.
Flooding closed many highways in the area and heavy rain warnings were issued Saturday for the central northern region, the reports said.
There were no immediate reports of death or injuries associated with the huge storm.
