A woman narrowly avoided a dangerous situation when a powerful gust of wind blew her towards oncoming traffic. Video footage captured the moment she was walking toward a pedestrian crossing and suddenly caught by an 85mph wind in Wellington, known as New Zealand’s windiest city. Despite attempting to grab a traffic light post, she lost her balance and fell onto the road.
Fortunately, there was a gap in the traffic, allowing the woman to safely regain her footing and reach the sidewalk without serious injuries. Social media buzzed with comments about the strength of the wind, with many expressing shock at the intense weather conditions in Wellington.
Tragically, a man lost his life after being struck by a tree branch in a Wellington park during the storm. The severe winds and heavy rain disrupted transportation, closed schools, and caused power outages in various parts of the country.
Flight operations at Wellington Airport were briefly suspended due to the stormy conditions before resuming with challenging take-offs and landings. The storm also disrupted passenger ferry services. The fatal incident occurred on Mount Victoria, a popular hiking spot in the city center.
Authorities warned residents to avoid parks and reserves due to the risk of falling trees. Thousands of properties in Wairarapa were left without electricity, leading to closures of schools and businesses. The lower North Island and parts of the South Island were under weather warnings throughout the day.
Several state highways were closed due to flooding and landslides, with reports of a truck toppling over in Hawkes Bay, causing injuries and road closures. New Zealand’s geographical location and mountainous terrain make it prone to extreme weather patterns. The MetService predicted a temporary easing of the storm on Wednesday before another, potentially more severe weather system hits on Thursday.