An emergency evacuation order has been issued for waterfront properties in Wellington’s south coast areas because of heavy swells.
From 9am tomorrow, a mandatory evacuation order will be in place for residents in Ōwhiro Bay, Island Bay, Houghton Bay and Breaker Bay.
Lyall Bay is not included in the order.
Residents have been urged to leave tonight while it is safe to do so, as it may be too dangerous to leave tomorrow morning, Civil Defence said.
The warning comes as Wellington City Mayor Andrew Little declared a state of emergency for the southern and eastern wards.
The southern coast is bracing for “significant” swells, with Cook Strait sailings cancelled and forecasters saying waves will be in a range rarely seen.
MetService has put out a heavy swell warning for Wellington and the South Wairarapa coastline, with swells up to 8-10m forecast.
These swells could bring debris and surface flooding to roads, especially around high tide, which is at 11.19am and 11.42pm tomorrow.
Wellington City Council recommends residents of south coast waterfront properties and those who are concerned about flooding stay somewhere else tonight.
“Residents of the south coast can expect extensive road closures on Tuesday,” the council said in a statement.
“We require those in affected areas, including pets, to be out of properties no later than 9am on Tuesday.”
An Emergency Assistance Centre has been set up at Wellington South Baptist Church, 284 The Parade, from 9pm tonight for those who don’t have a place to go.
“It’s definitely a significant swell event,” meteorologist Devlin Lynden said.
“We do occasionally see these heavy swell events ... but this one is particularly notable.”
Lynden said he and other forecasters had been speaking yesterday about swell ranges they “seldom see” and these were among them.
The Wellington heavy swell warning is in place from Cape Terawhiti to Turakirae Head, starting at 3am tomorrow until 9am Wednesday, with southerly combined waves rising to 8-9m tomorrow afternoon then easing that night.
The Wairarapa warning covers from Turakirae Head to Mataikona from midnight today until 9am Wednesday, with waves rising to 9.5-10.5m late tomorrow morning then easing Wednesday midday.
Lynden said there would be strong winds pushing up the southwest of the country, which was driving the heavy swells.
“This is a pretty fast-moving system,” he said, noting the swells would be “rapidly rising” before quickly easing.
Lynden urged locals, including boaties in “potentially hazardous areas”, to keep up to date with forecasts and follow the advice of officials.
He said swells approaching Wellington were “generally speaking” in the range of 1-2m, so these would be “very large” in comparison.
Lynden also warned there was the potential for coastal flooding and encouraged those living in affected coastal areas to also stay up to date.
Interisland and Bluebridge ferry services have cancelled Cook Strait sailings for Tuesday, with Bluebridge also cancelling its 8.30pm sailing today.
Melissa Nightingale is a Wellington-based reporter who covers crime, justice and news in the capital. She joined the Herald in 2016 and has worked as a journalist for 12 years.
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