MetService New Zealand has issued a Red Strong Wind Warning for Wellington City, Lower Hutt, Upper Hutt and Porirua. This will be in place from 10:00am today (Thursday 1 May) until 3:00am Friday 2 May.

Wellington Region Emergency Management Regional Spokesperson, Dan Neely says the forecasted winds of 140km/h can damage trees, powerlines and unsecured structures and could lift roofs.

“With the high winds forecast we may also see a number of trees down which can cause power outages and further hazards on the road,”

“We know that Strong Wind Warnings are fairly common for our region and it’s easy to get complacent, but Wellingtonians should take this one seriously and be prepared.”

Winds are expected to peak at 1:00pm this afternoon especially around the South Coast of Wellington City and exposed hilltops.

“We are advising people to stay indoors where possible and avoid unnecessary travel. If you need to travel this afternoon or evening, plan ahead as strong winds can make driving hazardous,” says Neely.

During strong winds, people should:

· 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.

· Bring pets indoors and move stock to shelter.

· Listen to your local (state radio station names here) radio station for information.

· Power cuts are possible in severe weather. 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.

"If you, your family and/or your property are at risk, immediately contact emergency services on 111,” says Neely.

The Wellington Region Emergency Coordination Centre has activated and is currently monitoring the situation in close contact with MetService, councils, lifeline utilities and emergency services.

“This morning, we met with all of the region’s local councils, local emergency services and other key stakeholders and we are all preparing to respond,” says Neely.

In addition to the Red Strong Wind Warning, there are a number of other severe weather watches and warnings in place for the Wellington Region. Information on these watches and warnings are available on the MetService website.

Wellington Region Emergency Management will be keeping a close eye on the weather as it develops and will post any key updates on its Facebook page: @wremonz

These updates can also be viewed on the WREMO website www.wremo.nz

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