A woman narrowly escaped a potentially dangerous situation when she was unexpectedly pushed into the path of oncoming vehicles by an unusually strong gust of wind. The incident, captured on dashcam footage, occurred in Wellington, known as New Zealand’s windiest city, where winds reached speeds of up to 85mph.
The woman was walking towards a pedestrian crossing when she was suddenly swept off her feet by the powerful wind. Despite her attempt to grab onto a nearby traffic light post, she lost her balance and fell onto the road. Fortunately, a gap in traffic allowed her to quickly get up and move to safety without sustaining serious injuries.
Witnesses shared their shock on social media, with many highlighting the strength of the wind in Wellington. The incident occurred amidst severe weather conditions in the region, where a man lost his life after being struck by a tree branch in a local park during the storm. The stormy weather resulted in travel disruptions, school closures, and power outages in various parts of the country.
Flight operations at Wellington Airport were temporarily suspended due to the strong winds, causing delays and turbulent landings upon resumption. Additionally, ferry services were also affected by the adverse weather conditions. Authorities advised caution in parks and reserves due to the risk of falling trees, with thousands of properties left without electricity in some areas.
Warnings for wind and rain were issued across the lower North Island and parts of the South Island, leading to flight disruptions in Christchurch. Several state highways were closed due to flooding and landslides, with reports of a truck being overturned in Hawkes Bay, resulting in injuries and road closures. New Zealand’s geographical location and terrain contribute to erratic weather patterns, with further severe weather predicted to impact the region in the coming days.
