36-Foot Waves, Gale Winds Batter New Zealand’s Wellington
Mandatory evacuation orders were issued for waterfront communities across Owhiro Bay, Island Bay, Houghton Bay, Breaker Bay, and Moa Point, as waves and winds battered the coastline, according to media. Gusts of up to 137 km/h (85.1 mph) were separately recorded along stretches of the Wairarapa coast.
Several flights were cancelled at Wellington Airport, and a small aircraft was reportedly overturned by the extreme conditions. Ferry services across the Cook Strait — including Interislander and Bluebridge sailings — were suspended as a precautionary measure.
Wellington Mayor Andrew Little said early forecasts had pointed to potentially dangerous coastal flooding, drawing on the severity of past events including significant damage recorded in 2020. He noted, however, that while offshore waves reached 10 to 11 meters, their impact closer to shore proved less severe than models had predicted.
"No major damage has been reported," Little said, adding that the decision to declare a state of emergency was made on the basis of early forecasts and safety concerns.
The local state of emergency — covering the city's southern and eastern wards — was subsequently lifted after officials determined that risks had sufficiently subsided. Hundreds of evacuated residents were cleared to return home, though authorities cautioned that debris and slippery surfaces could still present hazards.
National forecaster MetService warned that elevated swells would persist through Wednesday morning, with officials flagging an overnight high tide cycle as a potential renewed risk. Coastal residents were urged to remain vigilant despite the improving outlook.
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