A severe wind event struck the Kapiti Coast on an afternoon, generating powerful gusts that damaged approximately a dozen vehicles and left drivers grappling with sudden, blinding debris. MetService had active strong wind watches and warnings in place for parts of the country, including the Kapiti Coast, where forecasters projected maximum wind gusts reaching up to 100km/h.
Vehicle Damage and Carpark Impact at Mitre 10 MEGA
The intense weather struck the Mitre 10 MEGA carpark in Kapiti around 1 p.m., catching drivers and shoppers off guard. Steve Devine, a 61-year-old local resident and Kapiti Coast College teacher, parked his vehicle in his usual spot facing the sea just as the weather deteriorated. He recalled watching a sudden weather phenomenon unfold before his car windshield was completely obscured.
As Devine described to 1News, "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." He added that conditions quickly intensified until "the whole of the windscreen was just covered in brown dirt, debris and stone."
Devine, who noted he is familiar with heavy winds in the Wairarapa region, stated that this incident was the most severe wind event he had ever experienced. Remaining buckled in his seatbelt, he ducked down inside his vehicle while witnessing widespread impacts around the lot. At least four neighboring cars sustained shattered windows during the gust. A spokesperson for Mitre 10 MEGA Kapiti confirmed that roughly a dozen vehicles—spanning customer cars, trades vehicles, and staff automobiles—suffered damage. Store employees stepped in to assist motorists in the carpark and document the scene with photographs.
Meteorological Context and Forecast Warnings
MetService meteorologist Oscar Shiviti addressed the nature of the weather event, stating that the forecasting agency could not officially confirm or deny whether the specific gust captured in the carpark constituted a mini tornado. However, Shiviti confirmed that an active wind warning covered the Kapiti Coast region at the time of the incident.
Timeline of the Kapiti Coast Wind Event
- 1:00 PM: Severe wind gusts strike the Mitre 10 MEGA carpark on the Kapiti Coast, coinciding with active MetService wind warnings for up to 100km/h gusts.
- During the Event: Flying dirt, debris, and stones shatter windows on at least four vehicles, with approximately a dozen total cars sustaining damage.
- Immediate Aftermath: Mitre 10 MEGA staff assist affected drivers in the carpark and document property damage.
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