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Home / New Zealand

Fog fears for several lower South Island airports tonight, after a blanket of fog caused a day of travel disruption in Auckland

NZ Herald
24 May, 2017 07:03 PM4 mins to read

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Thick fog shrouding Auckland this morning is causing travel chaos as nearly 70 flights are cancelled and delayed.

There are fresh fog warnings for parts of New Zealand tonight, after air travel was severely affected when fog blanketed our biggest city this morning.

Air New Zealand put out a media statement late this afternoon warning forecast weather conditions were likely to affect flight operations in the lower South Island this evening.

"Air New Zealand is advising customers booked to travel to or from ports such as Christchurch, Dunedin, Queenstown and Invercargill to consult the arrivals and departures information on the Air New Zealand website here for up to date schedule information."

No one from Jetstar could be reached for comment on whether their flights might be affected.

Metservice meteorologist Tom Adams said as well as the southern centres, fog was also possible overnight in Hamilton.

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Auckland was likely to be spared, after nearly 120 flights were delayed or cancelled, and an international flight diverted, when thick fog blanketed the city this morning.

Fog restrictions were lifted by the middle of the day, but fog returned again briefly just before 1pm.

It had cleared an hour later, but passengers were warned to check their flights online as the backlog slowly cleared.

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Due to the intermittent fog at Auckland Airport this afternoon, disruptions continue to domestic flight schedules. 1/2

— Auckland Airport (@AKL_Airport) May 25, 2017

Our advice to passengers is to check flight status online before travelling to the airport. Thanks to all passengers for your patience. 2/2

— Auckland Airport (@AKL_Airport) May 25, 2017

Metservice meteorologist Tom Adams told the Herald that the fog which returned to the airport this afternoon was remnants of that which blanketed the city this morning.

"It erodes through the day but there's still wispy dregs of it ... if there's wind it can get blown back in."

The fog was unlikely to return to Auckland overnight, but in Waikato and parts of the Central North Island, including Rotorua and Taupo, it was likely to return, Adams said.

Wind in Wellington would prevent it enveloping the capital.

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25 May 04:17 AM

At midday the airport said 77 flights had been delayed and 42 flights cancelled because of the fog.

An international flight from Brisbane was diverted to Wellington Airport because of the fog.

Much of Auckland has been shrouded in dense fog since it descended over the city just before 3am.

Skies cleared briefly over Manukau Harbour at 9am allowing the airport to lift fog restrictions, but it rolled back an hour later.

Wonder why some places are more prone to fog? See this blog on inversions for more info https://t.co/KzxntSX3Sj ^TA pic.twitter.com/YrHNCKapjg

— MetService (@MetService) May 24, 2017

Motorists were reduced to a crawl on suburban streets and motorways, unable to see more than a few metres ahead in the treacherous conditions.

Even as late as 11.30am fog was still lingering in northwestern parts of the city.

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A few flights arrived and took off during the hour-long window, but the continued disruptions left scores of air travellers grounded.

Fog is back at @AKL_Airport – please continue to check https://t.co/YcGiDWwS7n and with your airline for the latest flight information.

— Auckland Airport (@AKL_Airport) May 24, 2017
Fog has hit south Auckland on Thursday morning as the sun rises. Photo / Nick Reed
Fog has hit south Auckland on Thursday morning as the sun rises. Photo / Nick Reed

Earlier in the day photos from inside the terminal showed long passenger queues forming.

This queue is unacceptable #aucklandairport pic.twitter.com/crvq1ZNdm8

— Andrew Mortimer (@MortsAuckland) May 24, 2017

All international flights were operating as normal.

Regional Link services into & out of Auckland are currently affected by fog ☁️☁️ Keep updated on your flight: https://t.co/rXQtFJPdCD pic.twitter.com/jYjmYYR1a8

— Air New Zealand✈️ (@FlyAirNZ) May 24, 2017

On the roads, neon signs on the motorways warned drivers to take care, as visibility was reduced across the network.

It's a wee bit foggy in some areas for #AklTraffic this morning. Please #TakeExtraCare & increase your following distance ^TP pic.twitter.com/wac5wJTR98

— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) May 24, 2017

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff posted a photo showing the sea of fog obscuring the Waitemata Harbour from his inner-city office.

Foggy when I drove into work at 5.30am today. Still foggy now. pic.twitter.com/oExA6ZUkKD

— Phil Goff (@phil_goff) May 24, 2017

Alongside the weather delays, a truck breakdown on the Southern Motorway in a citybound lane during the morning rush hour caused further holdups with motorists sitting in a 30km crawl to town until well after 8.30am.

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Southern Mwy: Truck #breakdown blocking left lane citybound on Newmarket Viaduct. #ExpectDelays this morning ^TP pic.twitter.com/SCbzlkTBVx

— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) May 24, 2017

Traffic woes continued with a crash on the Northern Motorway near the Northcote offramp, which snarled traffic heading across the bridge.

Northern Mwy: #Crash citybound by Northcote Rd off-ramp is clear of lanes but causing #delays. Pass with care & #AllowExtraTime ^TP pic.twitter.com/vHuxsNVDXm

— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) May 24, 2017

The MetService said showers were forecast after lunch for Auckland.

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