Monday, October 6, 2008

Wellington Hit by Norwesterly Gales

Earning its title as "The Windy City", Wellington has been hit by northwesterly gales gusting up to 130 km/h, closing the airport, downing power lines, and closing the Rimutaka Hill road. More details here.

While air travel has been disrupted to and from the capital, Cook Strait interislander ferry sailings are experiencing only minimal difficulty in 1 metre swells, southerly gales typically causing higher swells in the Strait than westerlies.

Heavy rain accompanied the gales, with rapidly rising river and stream levels expected. Some slips may also occur. Heavy rain warnings have been issued for Taranaki, the central North Island, and western ranges of the Hawkes Bay and Gisborne.

A southwesterly cold front is following hard on the heels of the norwesters bringing cooler temperatures & an easing in wind strength although some gales may persist.

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