Several media outlets are reporting that nearly 100 mph winds blasted Wellington, New Zealand on Wednesday night (Thursday in New Zealand), forcing more flight delays and cancellations, power outages and road closures.
On Thursday morning, roughly six Air New Zealand flights were canceled while two flights were delayed. For up-to-the-minute, live updates on all flights to and from Wellington Airport, click here.
According to a Reuters report, the storm blew through Wellington as it moved north toward Auckland, New Zealand's largest city. According to Reuters, more than 10,000 properties on the North Island were hit by power cuts, several highways were shut and ferries that travel across the Cook Strait between the North and South islands were suspended because of towering waves.
According to Radio New Zealand, officials from Powerco, a gas and electricity distributor in New Zealand, said heavy snowfalls, downed lines and flooding have caused havoc across its electricity network. Damage is spread throughout Wairarapa, Manawatu, Whanganui, Taranaki, Ohakune, Waiouru and Taihape, according to the report.
According to Reuters, severe weather warnings were issued earlier on Thursday, and media reported that motorists stuck on one North Island highway had to be rescued.
New Zealand has suffered severe weather in recent months, with a cyclone in April causing one fatality and forcing authorities to evacuate seaside areas and close schools, according to Reuters.
Ferry Cancellations
According to Stuff, the storm has forced the cancellation of all Interislander and Bluebridge ferry services until Friday. Harbor ferries have also been canceled, according to the Stuff report.
Visit www.newzealand.com and keep visiting www.travelagentcentral.com for all your latest travel news. Be sure to follow Travel Agent’s Joe Pike on Twitter @TravelPike and Instagram @pike5260.
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