Strong winds caused damage to around a dozen vehicles at a Kapiti Coast business this afternoon, as severe weather swept through parts of the country. MetService had active wind watches and warnings in place for the region, where gusts were forecast to reach up to 100km/h.
Vehicle Damage Recorded at Mitre 10 MEGA Kapiti
The wild weather struck the Mitre 10 MEGA in Kapiti at approximately 1pm today. Steve Devine, 61, parked his vehicle in his normal spot facing the sea when he noticed the weather deteriorate rapidly. “Just as I was starting to turn off the car, the wind started picking up and I suddenly saw this sort of mini tornado thing just suddenly happen,” Devine said. He described how the situation escalated quickly, leaving his windscreen covered in brown dirt, debris, and stone. The Kapiti Coast College teacher, who lives locally in Waikanae beach, remarked that it was “actually far more serious than any wind I’d ever been involved in,” noting it surpassed the heavy winds he frequently encountered in the Wairarapa.
Devine reported that he ducked down inside his vehicle while keeping his seatbelt fastened. At least four other cars parked near him sustained smashed windows during the event. A spokesperson for Mitre 10 MEGA Kapiti confirmed that around a dozen vehicles suffered damage, encompassing customer cars, trades vehicles, and staff automobiles. Store staff members stepped in to assist people in the carpark and took photographs of the aftermath. Devine praised the employees, stating that the staff were “very helpful” and that several people who were shopping at the time avoided being inside the affected cars.
Meteorological Context and Weather Warnings
MetService meteorologist Oscar Shiviti addressed reports regarding the appearance of the wind, stating that the forecaster could not confirm or deny whether the observed wind gust was a mini tornado at this stage. Shiviti confirmed that a wind warning was actively in place for the Kapiti Coast area when the damage occurred. The warnings formed part of a broader weather system affecting multiple parts of New Zealand.
