High winds and power cuts in Wellington

This storm has come in and is probably going to break some records – already the South Island is seeing unprecedented levels of snow.

Here in the capital some areas are already seeing power cuts, so if there are no posts in the next 18 hours you will know that we have lost power.

Winds of 130 km/hr (80m m/hr) are fairly routine here in these storms.

High winds battering capital

Radio New Zealand,

20 June, 2013

Air New Zealand says high winds have forced it to cancel all flights in and out of Wellington.

Severe gales have been forecast for Wellington, including the Kapiti Coast, as well as Auckland and Northland on Thursday night. Wind, rain and snow is battering many parts of the country.

The airline's flights to and from the capital were suspended at 5.30pm due to high winds and the decision to cancel all flights was made at 6.15pm.

Air New Zealand said the bad weather has already disrupted many other flights, especially in Queenstown.

Jetstar said it has cancelled all four flights in and out of Wellington on Thursday night.

Meanwhile, all Interislander ferry services have been suspended until Friday afternoon due to predicted waves of up to eight metres high.

The last sailing was a cargo service at 6.30pm on Thursday.

Power cuts reported

In Wellington, the city council has received reports of widespread power cuts.

A spokesperson said have been told that electricity is out in parts of the central city, Khandallah and Titahi Bay on Thursday night. There have also been a number of reports of trees down.