WELLINGTON – In a tragic incident on Tuesday, a man lost his life after being hit by a falling tree branch in a park amidst intense storm conditions in New Zealand’s capital.

Severe winds and heavy rainfall wreaked havoc across the region, leading to travel disruptions, school closures, and power outages in various areas. Strong gusts forced the suspension of flights in and out of Wellington for several hours before operations resumed, albeit with turbulent departures and arrivals. The weather also put a stop to passenger ferry services.

The fatal accident occurred at Mount Victoria, a favored trail for walkers located in the heart of the city.

Local authorities have cautioned the public to avoid parks and reserves due to the potential threat of falling trees. A dashcam video captured a dramatic moment when a pedestrian was swept off their feet by a gust of wind, propelling them onto the road where they narrowly escaped being hit by passing vehicles.

According to the MetService weather agency, winds in the Kelburn area reached speeds up to 120 kph (75 mph). Although Wellington is renowned for its blustery weather, these gusts were exceptional even for the city’s usual stormy conditions.

About 10,000 properties were without electricity in the neighboring rural region of Wairarapa, according to figures from the local lines company. Schools and businesses in the area closed for the day.

Throughout Tuesday the lower North Island, where Wellington is located, and most of the South Island were under wind or rain warnings. In Christchurch on the South Island, gales disrupted flights on Tuesday afternoon.

Some state highways on both islands were closed due to flooding and landslides. In Hawkes Bay on the North Island, the wind toppled a truck, injuring one person and closing the road, authorities said.

New Zealand’s location in the southern latitudes and the mountain ranges that run the length of the country can produce wild weather throughout the year. MetService said the tempest was due to ease Wednesday before a second, more severe weather system was expected Thursday.