A powerful and unusually widespread storm battered New Zealand on Thursday, triggering multiple states of emergency and bringing severe disruption across the country.
Torrential rain, hurricane-force winds, and heavy snow caused flooding, power outages, transport shutdowns, and forced evacuations from vulnerable areas.
The extreme weather conditions forced states of emergency in Christchurch, Selwyn District, and other parts of the South Island, while the capital, Wellington, endured its strongest winds in over a decade.
Gusts reached up to 150 km/h as torrential rain, flooding, and heavy swells battered both islands—disrupting flights, halting ferry services, closing schools, cutting power to thousands, and triggering evacuations in flood-prone areas.
Authorities issued rare red and orange weather warnings, urging residents to stay indoors amid what officials described as a highly dangerous and unusually widespread weather event.
Christchurch and South Island districts under state of emergency
The city of Christchurch, New Zealand’s largest urban centre on the South Island, declared a state of emergency on Thursday after intense downpours caused widespread surface flooding, road closures, and fears of rivers breaching their banks. Over 180 millimeters of rain fell in some parts of Canterbury between Wednesday and midday Thursday—more than double the region’s monthly average.
Selwyn District and Banks Peninsula also issued emergency declarations, with local authorities ordering evacuations in flood-prone zones. “Due to rising river levels and advice from the regional council, I declared a state of emergency for the district at 5:39 am,” said Selwyn Mayor Sam Broughton.
Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell confirmed the measures, saying they would allow agencies to “respond more effectively as conditions worsen and further damage assessments come in.”
Wellington endures historic winds amid Red Alert
In an unprecedented development, Wellington, New Zealand’s capital, faced its first-ever Red Wind Warning, the highest-level alert issued by national forecaster MetService. The city, known for frequent blustery weather, experienced its most violent storm in more than a decade.
Wind gusts reached up to 150 km/h (93 mph) in the city, and an even stronger 160 km/h (99 mph) was recorded in the exposed coastal area of Baring Head. The storm forced widespread shutdowns across the city, including the cancellation of all flights at Wellington Airport, suspension of Cook Strait ferry services, and closures of schools and universities.
“This is certainly bigger than your average bad Wellington day,” said Dan Neely, spokesperson for the region’s emergency management department. “We’ve got waves overtopping roads, flying debris, and widespread power outages. The public needs to take this seriously.”
Approximately 1,000 homes lost electricity in the wider Wellington region, and Wellington Electricity warned that continued high winds were likely to cause further outages and potentially delay restoration efforts.
Transport Disruption
Nationwide, the storm severely disrupted transport and infrastructure. In addition to the grounding of flights and suspension of ferry routes, authorities warned of dangerous driving conditions due to downed trees, flooding, and storm debris.
In the South Island, a major slip forced the closure of Dyers Pass Road, a key route linking Christchurch and Lyttelton Harbour. Coastal roads around Wellington were impacted by wave overtopping and debris, further straining emergency services.
Cook Strait, the channel separating the North and South Islands, was forecast to experience five-meter (16-foot) swells, prompting maritime authorities to suspend all inter-island ferry operations until at least Friday afternoon.
Schools closed, events cancelled as storm disrupts daily life
Victoria University of Wellington and numerous primary and secondary schools across both islands closed for the day in response to safety concerns. The Royal New Zealand Ballet also cancelled its scheduled Thursday night performance.
Local officials urged residents to avoid all non-essential travel, stay indoors, and secure outdoor objects such as trampolines and garden furniture. “We are asking people to take this seriously—stay away from coastal areas and avoid driving if you can,” said a spokesperson from Wellington’s emergency management office.
One of the most widespread severe weather events in years
MetService, New Zealand’s government weather agency, described the storm system as one of the most geographically widespread and dangerous in recent years. In addition to the Red Wind Warning in Wellington, Orange Warnings—the second-highest level—were issued across parts of both islands for heavy rain, strong winds, snow, and coastal surges.
“Destructive winds will cause widespread damage including to power lines, roofs, and trees,” the agency warned. “Significant disruption to transport, communications, and power supply is expected.”
While New Zealand frequently faces volatile weather due to its mountainous terrain and surrounding oceans, the simultaneous issuance of high-level warnings across such a broad area is considered rare.
Storm System expected to ease Friday
Forecasts indicate the storm system will begin to ease by early Friday. However, emergency authorities remain on high alert amid ongoing risks of flooding, landslides, and power outages. Damage assessments are underway, but some rural areas remain inaccessible due to blocked roads and hazardous conditions.
Despite the severity of the storm, no fatalities or serious injuries were reported as of Thursday evening. Officials credited early warnings and public cooperation with minimizing harm.
Still, as New Zealand begins to emerge from the storm, emergency responders continue to work around the clock to restore services, assess damage, and provide aid to those affected.