(Bloomberg) — Gales hit parts of New Zealand for the second time in three days Thursday, grounding planes and prompting warnings from emergency services for people to be careful and avoid travel.
The MetService has issued a “High Wind Warning – Red” – the highest level – predicting gusts of up to 140 kilometers (87 miles) per hour in Wellington and the nearby Wairarapa region, as well as the South Island region of Canterbury. This after winds of 130 kilometers per hour hit the capital on Tuesday.
Central and southern New Zealand has been hit by a complex weather system just days after parts of the country were hit by strong northerly winds. Damaging storms and heavy rain toppled trees, knocked out power and closed roads as an estimated 100,000 teachers, nurses and other public workers went on strike Thursday for better pay and conditions.
Air New Zealand has suspended flights to Wellington, while most services to the South Island city of Christchurch are also suspended. Commuter trains and ferries across Wellington Harbor were canceled but Cook Strait crossings still sailed.
Local media reported power outages at the top of the South Island affecting more than 90,000 people.
Storms are the latest example of extreme weather events that are becoming more frequent worldwide due to climate change.
Unusual weather is also affecting parts of Australia. Temperatures at Sydney Airport soared to 38.7C and exceeded 39C in some suburbs on Wednesday – the hottest October day on record, while the Age newspaper reported two people were killed after being swept off a pier near Melbourne during strong winds.
Wellington City Council has closed its libraries, community centers and other facilities and urged the public to stay away from parks and other reserves for their own safety. A man died on Tuesday after he was hit by a falling branch while walking in a wooded area in the city.
A state of local emergency was declared in the Canterbury South Island region late on Wednesday as the weather system closed. Forecasters have reported strong gales and heavy rain in the Canterbury Ranges overnight, with the potential for downed trees, slips and flooding, which has already blocked some roads.
Christchurch City has closed a number of parks and warned citizens to postpone outdoor activities. Local media reported power outages in the Marlborough region at the top of the South Island, affecting more than 26,000 people.
The weather outages coincide with a nationwide strike on Thursday coordinated by a number of unions that represent government workers. However, a number of workers’ gatherings were called off or moved indoors due to the storms, including in Wellington and Christchurch. The march in Auckland’s biggest city is still going on.
Local media estimate that 17,000 health workers, 40,000 teachers and more than 36,000 nurses are on strike.
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