Extreme weather conditions, including winds reaching speeds of 193 km/h and torrential rainfall, have led to chaos in New Zealand. The storm first hit the North Island, forcing the declaration of states of emergency and the cancellation of hundreds of flights, before moving over the South Island. Tens of thousands of households lost access to electricity, and swollen rivers caused numerous floods and damage to road and bridge infrastructure.

Extreme wind speed

Gusts reaching 193 km/h, the strongest in 10 years, led to the felling of thousands of trees and the tearing down of power lines.

Transport chaos

The airport in Wellington suspended operations, and Air New Zealand flights were canceled. Main roads and ferry routes were closed.

Front shift

After devastating the north, on Tuesday February 17, the powerful low-pressure system struck the South Island.

Massive power outages

Tens of thousands of people on the North Island, mainly in the Waikato and Wellington regions, were left without power.

A powerful low-pressure system brought extreme weather phenomena to New Zealand, initially affecting the North Island. Record-breaking wind gusts reaching 193 km/h were recorded, the highest value in a decade. In the Waikato region and around the country's capital, Wellington, there were massive power outages affecting tens of thousands of residents. Intense rainfall, locally exceeding 300 liters per square meter, led to rivers bursting their banks, destroying bridges and cutting off access roads to many towns. The situation was worsened by the fact that the ground was already saturated with water from previous rainfall. New Zealand, due to its geographical location at the junction of tectonic plates and in the belt of strong westerly winds, has been exposed to violent extratropical cyclones for centuries. The most tragic in its effects was Cyclone Giselle in 1968, which led to the sinking of the ferry TEV Wahine. Paralysis affected almost all types of transport. The national carrier Air New Zealand was forced to suspend operations in Wellington, resulting in the cancellation of most domestic and international flights. Ferry services across the Cook Strait and suburban train traffic were also interrupted. The Polish Embassy issued official warnings for travelers, urging them to exercise particular caution and follow local service announcements. On Tuesday, February 17, the storm center and heaviest rainfall shifted over the South Island, bringing the risk of further flash floods. 193 km/h — was the maximum wind speed during the storm Local authorities in many districts declared a state of emergency, enabling more efficient evacuation of people from flood-threatened areas. The Prime Minister and rescue services emphasize that the priority remains restoring power supplies and clearing main transport routes. Residents report dramatic scenes where water entered homes within just a few minutes, and strong winds broke trees of enormous size. The situation remains dynamic, and meteorologists warn of further waves of rainfall in the coming days. Rainfall per hour: Waikato: 300, Neighboring regions: 150 Course of the storm attack: February 15 — Start of the breakdown; February 16 — Capital paralysis; February 17 — Strike on the South

Liberal media place greater emphasis on the link between extreme weather phenomena and climate change and the need for energy transition. | Conservative media focus on the costs of damage removal and the efficiency of government-run rescue services.