Strong winds taint New Year’s Eve for Whanganui

Persistent wind and wet weather have marred Whanganui's last day of 2024. Photo / NZME

Whanganui residents and visitors have woken to gusty winds and persistent moisture in the air on New Year’s Eve.

MetService said the strongest frequent gusts hovered above 75km/h in the morning – expected to be the windiest period of the day, heading into the afternoon.

The winds had not yet reached speeds capable of causing power outages or travel disruptions as seen on December 27, and were not expected to move into wind watch level.

Wind watch level requires the wind speeds to reach a minimum mean of 90km/h or frequent gusts exceeding 110km/h in the area.

MetService meteorologist Ngaire Wotherspoon said the southerly exposed areas in the North Island were feeling the brunt of the bad-weather patch leading into the new year.

“We’ve got this low-pressure centre to the east of the North Island which is pushing southerlies over the North Island.

“Not quite reaching wind watch levels [for Whanganui] but it certainly is a brisk day, especially because it is a southerly, so it will be on the cooler end,” Wotherspoon said.

Some areas could experience the same winds to a more severe or minor degree, depending on the wind’s interaction with the land, she said.

New Year celebrators should load up with extra layers tonight.

“[The wind] may pick up, but looks to start easing off heading into the evening – it will be quite brisk as we approach midnight, though.”