Cook Strait ferry sailings cancelled, residents told to stay off beaches as 7-metre swells forecast in Wellington

12:40 pm today

MetService heavy swell warnings were in place for the lower North Island coast, and strong wind watches for coastal parts of Wairarapa and the Tararua District, and in the South Island, coastal parts of Clutha and Dunedin from Tuesday

Photo: Screenshot/ MetService

MetService is warning people to stay off the southern coastlines of the North Island during forecast large swells.

Cook Strait ferry sailings have been cancelled ahead of the swells expected to be more than seven metres.

A southerly weather system moving up the country is bringing the swells to Cook Strait from Monday evening through to Wednesday morning.

Meteorologist Lewis Ferris said this will affect the south coast of Wellington and Wairarapa and parts of the eastern coast of South Island.

The height and long period of the swells would cause them to carry a lot of energy and a greater potential to run up the beaches, he said.

"Tomorrow won't be a good day to go out on any sort of southern coastlines, especially around Wellington. Don't take the dog for a walk; don't go just to see the large waves roll in," he said.

Residents should heed local authorities' warnings and not go out to the coast, he said. He said authorities might need to access the coast for sandbagging and other preparations.

The worst of the swells were expected during high tide at midday and early afternoon on Tuesday.

Strong wind watches are in place for parts of the lower North Island and the Otago coast.

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Bluebridge's website says the 8.30pm Wellington to Picton sailing on Monday has been cut, as have three services on Tuesday morning.

Interislander cancelled all its Tuesday sailings.

The ferry companies say they are contacting customers who will be moved onto the next available service.

An orange heavy swell warning kicks in from Cape Terawhiti to Turakirae Head from 6am Tuesday, lasting through to the same time Wednesday.

MetService is forecasting southerly combined waves rising to 7-8 metres by midday Tuesday, easing in the evening.

The same warning starts in Wairarapa from Turakirae Head to Mataikona from midnight on Monday through to noon on Wednesday.

"Southerly swell rising to 4 metres early Tuesday morning, then rapidly rising to 8-9 metres late Tuesday morning, easing below wave warning criteria Wednesday midday," Metservice said.

A strong wind watch is also in place in coastal parts of Wairarapa and the Tararua District on Tuesday.

It is also in effect in coastal parts of Clutha and Dunedin from 9pm on Monday.

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