Weather: Wind warning in place for Wellington, heavy rain for the South Island
New Zealand's MetService has issued severe wind and rain warnings for Wellington and parts of the South Island. High-speed gusts and heavy rainfall are causing travel delays and potential infrastructure damage across the region.
Why it matters
Extreme weather events pose immediate risks to public safety, transportation networks, and power infrastructure in New Zealand.
A strong wind warning is in place for the capital on Friday, while parts of the central and northern South Island are being drenched with heavy rain.
MetService said a front impacting parts of the South Island and the Tararua Range had hit on Friday and strong northwesterlies could reach a severe gale in eastern areas from Canterbury all the way up to Hawke's Bay.
Drivers in Canterbury and the West Coast are being warned to expect delays as rain and strong winds hit the regions.
MetService has forecast severe westerly gales reaching 90km/h near Arthur's Pass.
State Highway 7 is down to a single lane with stop/go traffic management in place because of fallen trees near Heslop Creek Bridge, between Rahu Saddle and Springs Junction.
An area warning for slips and flooding is in place on State Highway 73 from Arthur's Pass to Kumara Junction.
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