huge storm hits New Zealand

lynnb

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a storm the size of Australia, reported to be the largest storm on the planet at this time, is currently hitting New Zealand. The storm brewed in the Southern Ocean, bringing wind gusts of 130km/hr (about 70mph) and huge seas.

The storm has brought monster waves to Tasmania as well - the highest recorded was 18.4m - just under 60 feet high.

I hope our NZ members are managing OK after the recent earthquake which badly damaged the city of Christchurch.

Is anyone out there taking pictures?
 
I lived through some wild storms while living in Wellington for the first twenty years of my life. One in particular sank the inter island ferry, the Wahine, in the heads of Wellington harbour drowning over sixty people. There were bodies washing up on the beaches of Wellington for days ... that will live long in my memory!

I hope my dad's OK ... but I guess at ninety he's seen it all!

I wish all Kiwis a safe passage through this particular time.
 
Wellington is fine at the moment. Not even the windiest it's been, my BBQ hasn't even moved! It has been raining a bit with some lightening though.

I'm hoping to get down to the southern coastline tomorrow for some images but time will tell if I can squeeze it in.
 
Is anyone out there taking pictures?

I haven't taken any pics yet (by the time it really started to blow the sun had gone down), but I just souped two rolls of film -- heard thunder a few times then the lights dimmed in the middle of developing! Thankfully there's still power for the moment :)

Doesn't seem too horrific here in Auckland right now. I rode my motorbike home from work, it was a bit blowy over the bridge (OK, the gusts were fairly hairy on a 250 single) but apart from a little bit of hail pinging off the visor and making my fingers sting inside their gloves it was smooth enough.

Tomorrow morning will tell.
 
It only brushed against Auckland from what I could tell. We had a little taste of it and after a few bolts of lightning it just went quiet... that was 2 or so hours ago
 
Whaaaaa? We had some light rain, that is all I have heard about this. Then again, Chch is sheltered by the Southern Alps form all the nasty Tasman Sea stuff.
 
Hope everyone is well there. Sounds like something many people are used to, but still can cause problems. Take care everyone.
 
I do remember being blown of my motorbike riding to work one day ... an enormous gust of wind picked me and my little Kawasaki 100 up and dumped us in no uncertain style!
 
Whilst there's no doubt there has been some damage in parts and high winds, it looks a bit like the earlier reports were a bit hyped by the Australian Media. Looking just now at the NZ Herald website, the descriptions and photographs don't match the "big as Australia" storm reports of earlier today.
 
Big does not mean strong. The small storm that hit New York obviously caused greater damage...
 
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