Wellington Wind Warning
Wellington residents are advised to seek shelter due to a rare red wind warning issued by MetService, predicting gales of up to 140km/h that could lead to widespread damage, power outages, and hazardous driving conditions. Julie Paterson, a Lower Hutt resident, experienced a near-death incident when she narrowly avoided being struck by a falling tree branch while preparing to leave for a doctor’s appointment during the storm. She described hearing a loud cracking noise just before the branch fell, leaving her in shock.