Just a month after extreme weather conditions caused widespread disruption, New Zealand has been hit by a “train” of storms that have passed down the North Island, causing a night of heavy rain, thunderstorm warnings, and strong winds across much of the country.
Early on June 5, it was feared the Tauranga-Tāupo River would burst its banks when it reached its highest level since 1978, potentially flooding hundreds of homes.
Seventy families were evacuated as a precaution, but the river has now peaked, and authorities say the worst of that danger has passed.
However, parts of State Highway 1—the major road running from the top to the bottom of the country—have been affected by flooding, and hundreds of people across the North Island have been without power, which is slowly being restored….
New Zealand Lashed by Storms, Roof Blown Across Suburb
