A severe weather system struck New Zealand's North Island, bringing torrential rain and gale-force winds. At least one person died after their car was flooded on a state highway. Tens of thousands of households lost access to electricity, and air, rail, and sea transport were almost completely halted. A state of emergency has been declared in many regions.
Fatal Victim and Evacuations
One man's death has been confirmed after his vehicle was submerged by water. Hundreds of people had to leave their homes due to flooding.
National Transport Paralysis
Wellington Airport halted flights, and Air New Zealand canceled connections. Roads were also closed, and ferry and train services were suspended.
Massive Power Outages
Due to strong winds, tens of thousands of people were left without electricity. Technical services are working to restore supplies under difficult conditions.
Extreme Precipitation Totals
Locally, rainfall of 150-300 liters per m2 was recorded within an hour. Water destroyed bridges, cutting off some towns from the outside world.
A powerful atmospheric front that hit New Zealand in mid-February 2026 led to tragic flooding and extensive infrastructure damage. The most severe situation is on the North Island, where locally between 150 and 300 liters of rain fell per square meter in just one hour. The rapid rise of river waters caused flooding of numerous properties and destruction of key transport routes. One death has been confirmed, a person who drowned in their car on a flooded highway. In regions such as Waikato, residents are dealing with waist-high water, and local authorities decided to introduce a state of emergency in the most affected areas. New Zealand regularly contends with extreme weather phenomena resulting from its geographical location at the junction of tropical and polar air masses, which historically has led to major floods, for example in 1988 and 2023.The atmospheric paralysis also affected the country's capital, Wellington. The airport reported the cancellation or delay of most flights, and the national carrier Air New Zealand was forced to temporarily suspend operations. Gale-force winds damaged power lines, leaving tens of thousands of residents without electricity. The Polish Embassy issued an official warning for citizens in the region, urging caution and monitoring of emergency service communications. Meteorologists predict the precipitation zone will move southward, which may bring further disruptions in the coming days. Material losses are estimated in the millions of dollars, with water destroying not only homes but also bridge infrastructure. 300 liters — of precipitation per m2 within an hour Course of the Weather Cataclysm: February 14 — First Warnings; February 15 — Fatal Victim; February 16, 01:48 — Capital Paralysis; February 16, 10:09 — Bridge Destruction