'Bomb low' - Torrential Rain, Gale Force Winds at Arthur's Pass 19-1-2017

[JennyLeez]

The West Coast has borne the brunt of the bomb low weather system, with extreme rain causing flooding and slips that dumped boulders on highways.

Arthur's Pass and Lewis Pass are closed as boulders crash onto the road and "exceptionally heavy" rain triggers slips.

The Lewis Pass, or SH7, has been closed due to flooding, the Christchurch Transport Operations Centre (CTOC) said. The Springs Junction/SH6 intersection is also closed.

Matt Markham, who is travelling through the Lewis Pass, said traffic was backed up over kilometre on the eastern side of Engineers Camp.

The road closures mean travel between Picton and Christchurch was currently not possible.

The road from Arthur's Pass to Jacksons (SH73) has also suffered from the wild weather, with fallen trees, slips and flooding closing the section of highway. It is unlikely to reopen today. Access is still open from the village to Christchurch.

More photos at stuff.co.nz
Arthur's, Lewis Pass closed due to flooding, slips | Stuff.co.nz

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[JennyLeez]

Wind gusts hit 154kmh as a weather bomb moved across Wellington this morning, while boulders were brought down onto Arthur's Pass in the South Island.

Gales had halted some flights and ferry services in the capital.

Shortly before 9am on Thursday, MetService confirmed the front was leaving the city and heading east away from New Zealand.

A wind gust of 154kmh recorded at the Rimutaka summit at 6am was the front's heaviest, while a 148kmh gust was recorded at Mt Kaukau at 5am.

In more populated areas of Wellington, 120kmh gusts were recorded at Wellington Airport and in Kelburn early on Thursday.

The high winds had closed Wellington's Rimutaka Hill Road until shortly before 9.30am, and disrupted flights at Wellington airport. Check flights here.

"We can't even open the cargo hold - it's quite severe out there at the moment," an airport spokeswoman said earlier in the morning.

More from stuff.co.nz here:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/88557228/gusts-near-150kmh-in-wellington-just-before-dawn-as-bomb-low-hits



High winds blow the sea over Evans Bay Parade at Balaena Bay, Wellington.