A tragic incident unfolded in Wellington, New Zealand, on Tuesday as a man lost his life after being struck by a falling tree branch amidst severe stormy weather. The victim, who was injured on Mount Victoria—a popular trail in the city—succumbed to his injuries, highlighting the dangers posed by the tempest. The storm, characterized by ferocious winds reaching speeds of up to 120 kph (75 mph) in Kelburn, wreaked havoc across the capital and neighboring regions. Wellington, already renowned for its gusty conditions, experienced winds that were exceptionally strong even by its standards. The adverse weather disrupted air travel, with flights into and out of Wellington canceled for several hours before resuming under turbulent conditions. Passenger ferry services were also suspended. Authorities issued warnings urging residents to avoid parks and reserves due to the risk of falling trees. A dashcam video captured a pedestrian being blown into the road by a powerful gust, narrowly escaping oncoming traffic. The storm’s impact extended beyond the capital, with approximately 10,000 properties in the rural Wairarapa region left without electricity. Schools and businesses in the area were forced to close for the day. The lower North Island, including Wellington, and much of the South Island were under wind or rain warnings throughout Tuesday. In Christchurch, gales disrupted flights in the afternoon. State highways on both islands faced closures due to flooding and landslides, while in Hawkes Bay, a truck was overturned by the wind, injuring one person and shutting down the road. New Zealand’s geographical location in the southern latitudes, coupled with its mountainous terrain, often leads to extreme weather conditions. MetService indicated that the storm would ease by Wednesday, but a more severe weather system was anticipated to hit on Thursday.
Man killed by tree branch, pedestrian blown into road as storm buffets Wellington, New Zealand
