Cyclone Gabrielle disrupts NZ flights 12-14 Feb 2023

[Kiwi_Flyer]

Air NZ has cancelled all regional flights for upper and central North Island (KKE, WRE, AKL, HLZ, TRG, ROT, TUO, GIS, NPE) starting from 12th pm through to 14th am, has cancelled all AKL domestic flights between 6am 13th to 14th am, and most AKL international arriving or departing flights for 13th and 14th.

I would expect other flights also to be affected. Since the forecast track may also cause severe weather at wlg (and less likely chc) diversions may be tricky.

 

[serfty]

I hadn't realised it was that far South.

Cyclone Gabrielle: evacuations urged as ‘potentially devastating’ storm lashes New Zealand

Thousands without power in North Island, red weather warnings issued for rain and wind, schools closed and flights cancelled in Auckland

www.google.com

Latest: Gabrielle approaches NZ (+25 Maps)

The effects of Cyclone Gabrielle will be felt across much of the North Island today, especially later in the day,…

www.weatherwatch.co.nz

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

It's extra-tropical now but heavy rain and high wind warnings for all of the north island and upper south island.

 

[jase05]

We are in Wellington currently and due to stay at Lake Taupo for a couple of nights tomorrow before driving back to Auckland to fly out out Wednesday night. Will be interesting to see how things go and what schedule changes are needed but the outlook isn’t great

 

[SYD]

Round 2….

Storm Gabrielle grounds most New Zealand flights

At Auckland Airport on Monday, 94 per cent of departures were cancelled, while Air New Zealand halted much of its network, including all Tasman flights.

australianaviation.com.au

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

At AKL alone approx 400 flights cancelled yesterday. Air NZ reports over 500 cancelled flights.

Rain has eased in Auckland but still windy. Air NZ due to resume AKL flights from midday today (but probably not all routes as still rough weather in eastern North Island and upper south island).

Will take days to fly over 50k pax affected by cancelled flights to where they are meant to be.

 

[drron]

I hadn't realised it was that far South.

Cyclone Gabrielle: evacuations urged as ‘potentially devastating’ storm lashes New Zealand

Thousands without power in North Island, red weather warnings issued for rain and wind, schools closed and flights cancelled in Auckland

www.google.com

Latest: Gabrielle approaches NZ (+25 Maps)

The effects of Cyclone Gabrielle will be felt across much of the North Island today, especially later in the day,…

www.weatherwatch.co.nz

It is typical off our media to up the severity of everything. Gabrielle became an ex tropical cyclone just before it passed Norfolk Island. It weakened further as it proceeded south. Sure still packed a lot of moisture.

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

Not just rain, high winds too. Hauraki Gulf 160 kmh last night. Central pressure about 967hPa.

Several towns completely isolated and without power, phone or internet.

 

[jase05]

It is typical of our media to up the severity of everything. Gabrielle became an ex tropical cyclone just before it passed Norfolk Island. It weakened further as it proceeded south. Sure still packed a lot of moisture.

Wind was howling in Taupo last night with the windows rattling and power outages during the night. A few trees uprooted and blocking roads but no flooding here. Woke up to a beautiful sunny day day with not even a puff of breeze though

 

[drron]

Though the cyclone watch live reported 60-80 KPH winds with gusts to 120 kph as it passed NZ.

Extratropical Cyclone Gabrielle LIVE Tracker and Forecast | Zoom Earth

LIVE updates, satellite images and forecast tracks of Extratropical Cyclone Gabrielle 2023 near New Zealand. Current wind speed 95km/h. Max 165km/h.

zoom.earth

 

[jase05]

Though the cyclone watch live reported 60-80 KPH winds with gusts to 120 kph as it passed NZ.

The NZ news stations reported far higher than that in some parts of Northland and friends at Whangerai were saying winds were 130 mph there yesterday and most of their neighbours were flooded and sustained damage from the winds

 

[drron]

The NZ news stations reported far higher than that in some parts of Northland and friends at Whangerai were saying winds were 130 mph there yesterday and most of their neighbours were flooded and sustained damage from the winds

But that was my original point. The media love exaggeration. Just look at the tracker and see the wind strengths there. Now to the west of a tropical cyclone/storm the winds will be higher so because Gabriella swung to the east the east coast got stronger winds than if it actually passed over NZ.

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

A further 100 cancelled Air NZ flights (600 total so far).

 

[jase05]

Announcement on radio that wind is too strong and all flights in and out of AKL to be halted

 

[Mwenenzi]

Wide spread destruction in North Island
No driving or flying for some.

Widespread damage: Cyclone Gabrielle in pictures

The breadth and scope of flooding and damage from Cyclone Gabrielle has been unprecedented. We've collected photos from RNZ reporters and readers from across the regions.

www.rnz.co.nz

 

[jase05]

Just spoke to a friend who is on QF126 to BNE this afternoon and he is currently in the QF lounge. They had an announcement that the wind is too strong and aircraft are still landing but ground crew are unable to refuel or ready aircraft and passengers will be unable to board for “some time” She also said both lounges are an absolute zoo and that they just announced that lounge is at capacity and no new entries. If you choose to leave the lounge for any reason you won’t be allowed back in

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

Air NZ cancelled all AKL domestic flights from 4pm. So getting up towards 700 cancelled flights for the storm just for Air NZ.

 

[Mwenenzi]

Chaos for flyers again: Air NZ cancels all Auckland domestic flights for rest of day, airport suspends operations

Four domestic services were able arrive at the airport today as winds disrupted travel.

www.nzherald.co.nz

<snip>
The airport company said at 3.45pm today that “ground handling operations have needed to pause due to wind speed on the airfield, and the need to protect the safety of airport workers.”

Air New Zealand announced it had cancelled all domestic flights in and out of Auckland for the rest of the day, in a move that is expected to affect about 55 flights.

Air New Zealand chief operational integrity and safety officer Captain David Morgan said the strength and direction of winds at Auckland Airport were making it challenging to service aircraft, and it would be unsafe for staff “to continue to operate in these conditions”.

Air NZ is still planning to operate international flights at this stage - even though they are currently suspended. “These are able to operate because the international terminal is more sheltered from winds, however, the airline will be monitoring wind gusts closely and will reassess if conditions change,” said Morgan.
<snip>

 

[jase05]

I’ve been told QF are sending a A380 to do several AKL-SYD shuttle runs tomorrow.
A friend who had her AKL-BNE flight cancelled just got a text from QF saying that her flight has been rescheduled but is now on FRIDAY!
She is stuck in the airport for tonight at this stage but is trying to get on any flight possible tomorrow

 

[encryptededdy]

I’ve been told QF are sending a A380 to do several AKL-SYD shuttle runs tomorrow.

I can only see one run, but that's still pretty cool.