New Zealand's South Island and southern North Island struck by storms
{{date|January 2, 2006}}

[[New Zealand]]'s warm sunny New Year's weather has come to a sudden end as gale force winds and rain assault southern New Zealand.

In parts of the {{w|South Island}} New Year campers have finished their holiday early as winds averaging 120km/h (75 m/h), gusting at times up to 180km/h (112 m/h), have blown in.

Power went out to 1300 homes in the capital city [[Wellington City|Wellington]]; flights were grounded at the airport, with incoming flights diverted to [[w:Palmerston North|Palmerston North]] airport. 

“The {{w|North Island}} will also be affected by the low,” says {{w|MetService}} forecaster Michael Short, “with heavy rain around the {{w|Tararua Ranges}} and {{w|Mt Taranaki}}.”

The MetService has issued severe weather warnings for most of the South Island and the southern portion of the North Island; bad weather is also forecasted throughout the rest of the country.  

The MetService says to expect bad weather for the next 10 days as a deepening low moves south of Stewart Island, but a flow of westerly winds is expected to stay put all week.

Holiday makers have been asked by MetService to review their holiday plans and keep up to date with the latest weather.

== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1&ObjectID=10362178
|title=Storms moving up the country
|author=Colin Marshall
|pub=New Zealand Herald
|date=January 2, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3528331a10,00.html
|title=Gale force trouble for holidaymakers 
|author=Colin Marshall
|pub=NZPA
|date=January 2, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.nbr.co.nz/home/column_article.asp?id=13954&cid=4&cname=Business%20Today
|title=South Island, Wellington in for punishing winds, heavy rain 
|author=
|pub=NBR
|date=January 2, 2006}}

[[Category:Weather]]
[[Category:Disasters and accidents]]
[[Category:New Zealand]]
[[Category:Wellington City]]
[[Category:Oceania]]

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New Zealand's warm sunny New Year's weather has come to a sudden end as gale force winds and rain assault southern New Zealand.

In parts of the  New Year campers have finished their holiday early as winds averaging 120km/h (75 m/h), gusting at times up to 180km/h (112 m/h), have blown in.

Power went out to 1300 homes in the capital city Wellington; flights were grounded at the airport, with incoming flights diverted to Palmerston North airport. 

“The MetService forecaster Michael Short, “with heavy rain around the Mt Taranaki.”

The MetService has issued severe weather warnings for most of the South Island and the southern portion of the North Island; bad weather is also forecasted throughout the rest of the country.  

The MetService says to expect bad weather for the next 10 days as a deepening low moves south of Stewart Island, but a flow of westerly winds is expected to stay put all week.

Holiday makers have been asked by MetService to review their holiday plans and keep up to date with the latest weather.
Weather Disasters and accidents New Zealand Wellington City Oceania