Wellingtonians have been urged to prepare as MetService warns “destructive” gusts of up to 140km/h may hit this afternoon, with a rare red warning issued for the capital.
Hundreds of homes in the region are currently without power and flights have been cancelled out of the city’s airport this afternoon. Victoria University has suspended teaching activities from midday and urged students to get home safely.
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People are urged to stay indoors, avoid travel, and be prepared for possible power and communication outages, MetService said.
“Wellington is no stranger to high winds but, even by our standards, this is an extraordinary day in the capital,” meteorologist John Law told AAP.
Law said the “combination of wind direction, a strong southerly, and rainfall and higher tides” prompted the warning escalation.
The highest gust was recorded at Mt Kaukau at 150km/h, with the airport on the south coast registering 115km/h, forcing flight cancellations.
A 17-hour strong wind warning is in place from 10am today to 3am tomorrow. An orange heavy rain warning is also in force until midday Friday.
Trees down and roads inundated by severe weather event in Wellington. (Source: 1News)
Severe gale southwesterlies with damaging gusts would peak this afternoon, especially about the south coast and exposed hilltops. Winds would ease into the evening.
“Winds are expected to pick up from 10am, peaking at around 1pm, but continuing into the afternoon,” a spokesperson for Wellington Emergency Management said.
It was a wild morning in Houghton Bay. (Source: 1News)
“We are advising people to stay indoors where possible and avoid unnecessary travel. If you need to travel this afternoon or evening, plan ahead as strong winds can make driving hazardous.”
Official warnings state there is a threat to life from flying items and falling trees, with destructive winds expected to cause damage to powerlines and roofs. Disruption to transport and electricity is also anticipated, according to MetService.
The official forecaster issues red warnings when there is extreme weather which is likely to have a significant impact or disruption.
The high winds are also causing travel havoc across the region. Most arriving and departing flights at Wellington Airport have been cancelled this afternoon.
Most flights until 6pm have been cancelled.
“Conditions are expected to continue impacting our network throughout the day, so we encourage customers travelling to check the Air New Zealand app or the arrivals and departures page on our website for the latest updates,” a spokesperson said.
Cook Strait ferry crossings have also been cancelled this afternoon and Interislander and Bluebridge sailings face cancellations well into tomorrow as well.
An orange heavy rain warning for the Wellington region is also expected to bring about disruption, but there is a “minimal” chance the warning will be upgraded to red.
“Expect 90 to 110 mm of rain about the eastern hills and ranges, and 50 to 70 mm elsewhere. Peak rates of 10 to 20 mm/h expected mainly about the ranges,” according to MetService.
“Streams and rivers may rise rapidly. Surface flooding, slips, and difficult driving conditions possible. Clear your drains and gutters to prepare for heavy rain. Avoid low-lying areas and drive cautiously,” the forecaster advised.
Additional reporting by AAP
