Seven metre swells possible as severe weather to hit Wellington

Wellington residents are being warned to stay away from south coast beaches as severe southerly winds and heavy rain impact the region, leading to the cancellation of all regional flights to and from the capital.

Weather Warnings for Wellington

Severe weather warnings are in place for a large part of the lower North Island, and some parts of the upper South Island. Swells could rise to seven metres this evening and overnight, according to MetService.

• An orange heavy rain warning is in effect from 3pm Sunday until 7pm for the eastern hills of Wellington, Wairarapa, Tararua District and the Tararua Range.
• A heavy swell warning is in place from 7pm Sunday until midday Monday from Cape Terawhiti to Turakirae Head.
• An orange strong wind warning is active from 6pm Sunday until 3pm Monday.
• A heavy rain watch is in effect from 7pm Sunday until 5pm Monday for Wellington, excluding the eastern hills.

The Wellington City Council has cautioned that large sea swells are expected later today and may cause debris or damage to property. Residents are also advised to avoid beaches due to the ongoing discharge of untreated sewage from the shutdown of the Moa Point treatment plant.

The Moa Point facility completely failed last week, releasing tens of millions of litres of raw sewage daily into the Cook Strait. The council warns that seaspray in windy conditions could contain harmful bacteria and cause illness. Wellington Water is also preparing for the possibility of pumping raw sewage from the plant due to increased rainfall.

“The focus today is to minimise any need to use the short outfall while keeping our operators safe,” Wellington Water stated. Recent testing has shown elevated bacteria levels, as anticipated.

Power Outages and Flight Disruptions

Nearly 2000 households in Wellington are currently without power. Outages have been reported in Johnsonville and Broadmeadows since just before 7pm, with restoration estimated by 10pm. Approximately 40 households in Glenside and Tawa are also experiencing outages due to a line fault.

Air New Zealand has cancelled all regional flights in and out of Wellington due to high winds. Chief operating officer Alex Marren stated that safety is the priority, as conditions are outside operating limits for regional aircraft. Jet services are currently operating, but are being closely monitored for potential impacts later in the evening. Impacted customers are being rebooked on the next available flights.

Wellington Electricity is urging residents to secure trampolines and other outdoor objects to prevent damage to property and electrical equipment.