30 Jun 2021

Wellington weather: Breaker Bay update

From Morning Report, 6:38 am on 30 June 2021

Residents of Wellington's Breaker Bay are breathing a sigh of relief after large waves forecast for the city's south coast last night weren't as severe as predicted.

The polar blast that swept up the country yesterday bringing snow, ice and strong winds has mostly eased, though in Te Waipounamu - the South Island - State Highway 87 is closed between Kyeburn and Outram due to heavy snow, and the North Island's Desert Road is also closed due to snow and ice. Auckland is also waking up to a chilly start this morning - with the temperature just 2.6 degrees.

Heavy sea swells of up to eight metres had been forecast for Wellington's south coast, causing a local state of emergency to be declared for the city's Southern and Eastern wards.

People from about 70 houses at Breaker Bay were told to evacuate - though not everyone did, with some choosing to remain ater high tide had passed and no flooding had occurred.

Reporter Harry Lock is at Breaker Bay.