New Zealand’s North Island is underwater as unprecedented rains unleash floods, landslides, and widespread havoc. The weather service’s escalated alerts – orange and red – predict the storm’s climax late Sunday, following a day of relentless precipitation.
Heartbreaking news emerged Saturday: a man lost his life when floodwaters engulfed his vehicle on a key highway. This amid prior chaos from overflowing rivers, collapsed bridges, and power cuts affecting thousands.
Fueled by a intensifying low-pressure trough over eastern regions, expect torrents of rain, howling winds, and rivers breaching critical levels. MetService’s digital bulletins emphasize the peril of slips and submersion.
Local emergencies grip Waipa and Otorohanga districts, key farming areas 180 km from Auckland with 10,000 inhabitants. Energy firm Powerco logs 4,291 properties powerless across North Island.
Skies grounded flights too; Air New Zealand’s COO Alex Marron announced cancellations for all Wellington regional routes from Sunday afternoon, citing extreme gusts.
It all ignited Friday with downpours that bloated waterways, snapped roads, and displaced families. Eyewitness social media floods with visuals of drowned landscapes, splintered pavement, and urgent extractions – 80 souls now in emergency care.
As the torrent eases into Monday, recovery looms large. Authorities stress preparedness: stay informed, evade hazards, fortify homes. New Zealand’s soggy ordeal spotlights vulnerabilities to escalating weather extremes.