Weather: Lower Hutt woman’s shock as ‘destructive’ winds send trampoline into home
- Wellingtonresidents are urged to seek shelter after a rare red wind warning was issued.
- MetService predicts 140km/h gales, causing potential widespread damage, power outages and dangerous driving conditions.
- One woman has had a trampoline fly into her house, while another narrowly escaped being hit by a huge falling branch.
“Destructive” gales are wreaking havoc in the Hutt Valley, with one woman describing the alarming moment a trampoline flew into her house.
Lower Hutt woman Jenna Parker said her neighbour’s trampoline blew into her house this afternoon, smashing the windows.
“I just heard a bang and all the glass shattering. We live against the hill so don’t usually get hit by strong winds,” she told the Herald.
“It’s taken out part of the fence, windows on the back of the house and expensive plants – much to my husband’s horror,” she said.
Parker said they were “doing okay” after the fright and had “quickly whipped out and picked the kids up from school and daycare early so we can hunker down”.
The family have boarded up their windows and will contact their insurance company once they can see what the full damage is from the storm.
She said there were “certainly a lot of fences down” during her drive to school and daycare.
Parker’s is just one property affected by the winds, which are so severe that MetService has issued a rare red-level warning, urging locals to seek shelter.
Another Hutt woman posted a video on Facebook showing a huge branch that had snapped off a tree outside her home, narrowly missing hitting her as she stood behind her car.
The woman said she had to run to avoid being hit by the large branch and that it could have severely injured or killed her if she had not been fast enough.
Wellington Region Emergency Management has also warned locals should “take this one seriously” and advised people to stay away from windows and doors and shelter in the middle of their houses.
This is the first time Wellington has received a red warning since the colour-coded system was introduced in 2019.
Wind speeds have already reached at least 150km/h in exceptionally exposed areas and 118km/h elsewhere. Gusts of 140km/h are possible through the day.
“Destructive winds will cause widespread damage including powerlines and roofs, with dangerous driving conditions and significant disruption to transport and power supply,” MetService said in a statement.
The combined effects of heavy rain, high tides and large waves of 7m have the potential to exacerbate the impacts from the damaging gusts affecting the area.
Coastal areas, such as the road leading out to Eastbourne in the Hutt, have been heavily impacted.
Hutt City Council has warned residents of this area the road will be closed from 6pm for several hours, except for emergency vehicle access.
Marine Drive currently has a one-lane Stop-Go section in Mahina Bay to allow contractors to work on making the road safe, but this will close entirely this evening, the council said in a statement.
“From about 6pm tonight, the road will be closed for travel in both directions, except for emergency vehicles, for approximately four hours (until at least 10pm) due to expected unsafe conditions at this time, being two hours either side of high tide.
“The closure will be in place from the point after Howard Road joins Marine Drive and the Bus Stop at Wellesley School.”
The expected closure times may change, depending on public safety and priority.
“The crew will reassess the road and it will be opened when safe to do so. We encourage people to avoid unnecessary travel and plan around this closure,” the council said.
How bad is Wellington’s weather right now?
The Wellington region was battered by huge winds and heavy swells this morning, with reports of surface flooding, debris and slips on roads, power lines down, and trees falling.
The capital is experiencing some of its strongest southerlies in more than a decade, with a gust of 160km/h recorded at Baring Head, between Wellington Harbour and Palliser Bay.
Most flights in and out of the city were cancelled this morning, with Air New Zealand advising more were expected to be cancelled throughout the day. Cook Strait ferry sailings have also been cancelled until at least tomorrow.
Power has been knocked out to hundreds of homes around the region, with work ongoing to restore electricity.
What do authorities advise?
- Stay indoors
- Stay away from windows and doors. Shelter in the middle of the house, preferably in an internal room such as a bathroom
- Do not walk around outside or drive unless absolutely necessary
- Seek sturdy shelter away from trees
- Bring pets indoors and move stock to shelter
- Be prepared for power and communication outages
- If travelling, take care in coastal areas
- Secure loose items around your property to prevent damage
- Unplug small appliances which may be affected by electrical power surges. If power is lost, unplug major appliances to reduce the power surge and possible damage when power is restored
- Stay out of the water for two to three days after heavy rain
Where to go for information, advice, help
Follow the Herald’s live weather blog for continued updates.
If you or others are in danger, call 111.
Check MetService for weather warnings: https://www.metservice.com/warnings/home.
Visit Wellington Region Emergency Management Office for emergency preparedness advice https://www.wremo.nz/hazards/severe-weather/.
Check Metlink for public transport updates https://www.metlink.org.nz/.
Monitor your local council’s website for the latest advice.
To report weather-related issues within the Wellington City Council area, call 04 499 4444, email info@wcc.govt.nz, use the FixIt App, or fill out the web form.
For the Hutt City Council area, report any debris, flooding or downed trees on 0800 488 824 or by using: https://maps.huttcity.govt.nz/RAP/viewer/.
In Upper Hutt, call the council on (04) 527 2169 to report urgent issues.
In Porirua, call the council on (04) 237 5089 to report urgent issues.
Call Kāpiti Coast District Council 0800 486 486 or 04 296 4700.
Melissa Nightingale is a Wellington-based reporter who covers crime, justice and news in the capital. She joined the Herald in 2016 and has worked as a journalist for 10 years.