Residents of homes along the coast south of the New Zealand capital Wellington were urged to evacuate on Monday. A local state of emergency applies along the coastal strip due to meter-high waves.
The highest wave measured on Tuesday morning (local time) was 10.9 meters, reported MetService, the New Zealand counterpart of the KNMI. Wellington Mayor Andrew Little urged residents to follow evacuation orders as emergency services may not be able to reach the area later.
The center of the New Zealand capital is located in a bay that is largely sheltered from the meter-high waves. Although Wellington is often hit by stormy weather, the expectations for Tuesday are “of a different order”, according to MetService.
The ferry service to the South Island has been halted by the storm and several flights have been cancelled. A small passenger plane at Wellington airport tipped over due to the wind, The New Zealand Herald reports. There were no injuries.