Wicked Wild Weather slams New Zealand
Pastor Dale Morgan
Wicked Wild Weather slams New Zealand*
2008-06-29
WELLINGTON, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Snow, rain and gale force winds
closed roads, halted interisland ferry travel and threw the plans of
some air travelers in Wellington into disarray on Sunday.
Roads in the central North Island were closed because of snow and
ice around Mount Ruapehu, the New Zealand Press Association reported.
And in the South Island, police warned drivers to be cautious as
snow and ice made roads in the central and southern South Island dangerous.
Snow had closed the Desert Road but by midday police said State
Highway 49 from Ohakune to Waiouru, and SH1 from Waiouru to Taihape have
been reopen.
On Sunday Afternoon, Cook Strait ferry crossings linking North and
South Island have also been canceled as winds and 7-meter swells make
conditions too rough. Hundreds of travelers have been affected.
More than 20 Air New Zealand flights into and out of Wellington
Airport have been canceled because of the rough weather.
Air NZ spokeswoman Tracy Palmer said most of the canceled flights
were run by link carriers, including Air Nelson and Mt Cook Airlines.
Flights by larger aircraft were not cancelled as the issue affected
only those flights where passengers needed to cross the tarmac.
MetService forecasts wind and rain to ease in North Canterbury and
Kaikoura on Sunday afternoon but severe gale southerlies and heavy rain
were set to continue for Wellington and Wairarapa until Sunday night.