Lanes on Auckland Harbour Bridge reopened after high winds, severe thunderstorm warning for lower North Island

A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for the lower half of the North Island with Auckland also getting a battering as severe winds brought down trees, halted flights and ferry services and closed lanes on the Harbour Bridge.

MetService has warned residents in Wellington and Cape Palliser and Wellington’s South Coast and said “These thunderstorms are expected to be accompanied by very heavy rain and large hail.”

This thunderstorm is taking me back to living in Sydney. Never had the house shake before in Wellington.

— Ben McNulty (@ponekeben) February 3, 2024

Meanwhile in Auckland this afternoon, gusts had reached 96km/h at the peak and base of the bridge, MetService said.

The high winds in Auckland were expected to continue throughout Saturday afternoon and evening before easing overnight, going into Sunday morning.

The high winds were also affecting other parts of the North Island on Sunday afternoon.

Strong wind watches were issued for Taumarunui, Taupō, Hawke’s Bay, Taihape, Whanganui, Manawatū and Taranaki.

FENZ attend a fallen tree at Auckland's St Lukes Rd as the weather worsens throughout the country. Photo / Hayden Woodward

Waka Kotahi NZTA lifted the lane closures across the Harbour Bridge at about 5pm after severe wind gusts caused lane closures and speed reductions for much of the afternoon.

Motorists had been encouraged to use the Western Ring Route (SH18/SH16) rather than attempting to cross the bridge.

An Air New Zealand spokesperson said flight NZ5020 from Napier was cancelled due to high winds.

FINAL UPDATE 5PM
Lane closures across the harbour bridge have been lifted and delays have since eased. ^CS https://t.co/D8fVw540oC

— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) February 3, 2024

About 1.30pm, Fire and Emergency New Zealand were clearing tree branches that had been blown across the road on St Lukes Rd.

An Auckland Transport spokesperson said that due to high winds, the Northcote Point Wharf stop of the 14:10 Inner Harbour Loop ferry service would be missed.

MetService described the wind as “strong”, with gusts of up to 83km/h across the bridge.

It comes as MetService forecasted most of the country to have miserable weather for the first weekend of February, with temperatures dropping and showers and wind afflicting much of the country.

MetService meteorologist Stephen Glassey told the Herald today was expected to be very windy for much of the North Island.

“There is a strong westerly flow moving over the country, bringing with it showers,” he said.

Strong winds continue to batter Auckland, as warnings remain in place for the Habour Bridge. Photo / Syvlie Whinray

A heavy wind watch has been forecast for Taranaki from 10am to 5pm today, with MetService saying westerly winds “may approach severe gale in exposed places”.

Glassey said windy conditions are forecast through the central North Island, especially around Tararua District and central Hawke’s Bay, as well as in Tāmaki Makaurau.

“There is a strong and higher than normal wind anomaly for most of the North Island.”

Glassely drew attention to a low-pressure system crossing the country from the southwest, bringing with it a strong band of rain, showers and possible thunderstorms.

“Lots of places over the North Island and the South Island can expect more showers, but they will ease by the end of the day, turning into more isolated showers,” he said.

The wet weather would arrive earlier in the South Island than the North Island, he said.

Glassely warned New Zealanders should all expect chillier weather today as temperatures will be significantly colder than the balmy highs the country has been experiencing over the past two weeks.

Cars queue to get onto the Auckland Harbour Bridge at the on-ramp. Photo / Sylvie Whinray

High number of lightning strikes

On Saturday morning, more than 1000 lightning strikes were recorded in two hours, sparking two fires on the West Coast.

MetService said between 5.30am and 7.30am, it observed 1300 lightning strikes over the country.

Most were recorded on the South Island’s West Coast and over the Tasman Sea, a spokesperson said.

Firefighters put out two separate fires in Greymouth that began due to the lightning strikes.

Crews were called to a report of smoke coming from a property shortly before 6am.

The two crews were then called to a commercial building in the town centre, where another lightning strike had ignited a fire.

There were no injuries and both fires have since been put out.