Storm causes power cuts, flight disruptions in New Zealand

Trees are seen as storm winds blow in New Zealand. (File photo by Reuters)

Severe wind, rain, and snow caused flight disruptions, road closures and power outages across New Zealand on Thursday, when the South Pacific island nation was hit by a storm carrying gales of up to 160 kilometers an hour.

The southerly gales rattled the capital, Wellington, as the storm moved north toward Auckland, New Zealand's largest city.

More than 10,000 properties on the North Island were hit by power cuts, several highways were shut, and ferries that travel across the Cook Strait between the North and South islands were suspended because of towering waves, domestic media reported.

Storm winds were blowing through Cook Strait, with an average speed of 110 kmh and gusts of 140 kmh, at Brothers Island.

"Damaging southerly winds continue until tonight... before gradually easing tomorrow morning," meteorologist Tom Adams said on the New Zealand meteorological service's website.

"Wellington has already seen gusts of 160 (kph)... earlier today, and Cook Strait recorded mean wind speeds of 130 kmh and 11-meter waves this morning," he said.

Severe weather warnings were issued earlier on Thursday, and media reported that motorists stuck on one North Island highway had to be rescued.

New Zealand has suffered severe weather in recent months, with a cyclone in April causing one fatality and forcing authorities to evacuate seaside areas and close schools.