Severe weather gripped large parts of New Zealand’s North Island on Monday, causing significant disruptions to flights, trains, and ferries while prompting road closures. Heavy rain and strong winds severed power to tens of thousands, and although some flights resumed at Wellington’s airport by the afternoon, cancellations were widespread.
Air New Zealand expressed hopes of resuming operations at Wellington, Napier, and Palmerston North airports later in the day as weather conditions improved. Nevertheless, online images revealed flooded neighborhoods, inundated homes, and fallen trees after floodwaters receded.
The ferocious storm prompted the Wellington region to account for more than half of overnight emergency calls. Authorities reported over 30,000 properties without power and issued warnings for motorists to remain off the roads. The storm is forecasted to bring further disruption as it moves towards the east coast of the South Island.