Strong southerly causes damage in Canterbury

File photo.
File photo.
Wind lifted roofs off houses and trees fell on power lines after a strong southerly whipped Canterbury on Wednesday night.

Fire and Emergency NZ said over two hours from 6.30pm, it received 16 calls.

Shift manager Lyn Crosson said the calls included trees falling down on roads and on power lines and roofs lifting off houses.

According to MetService winds in the city reached a high of 94 kmh at 9pm.

A gust of nearly 140kmh was recorded at Le Bons Bay on Banks Peninsula before 7pm and gusts topped 125kmh at the Kaikōura weather station before 9pm.