NEW ZEALAND – Cyclone Gita continues her path this week, now through New Zealand, with Christchurch and other districts on the South Island declaring a state of emergency. Last week, the system tore through the Pacific island of Tonga, then a Category 4 tropical storm, with speeds as high as 275 kilometers per hour—the worst cyclone the country has faced in 60 years.
“My message still to people is please look out for your local warnings and expect disruption to travel, and please just be careful,” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told reporters at Parliament, according to a report by 9News.
Wind speed was at 150 kilometers per hour as Gita first hit the zone between the North and South Islands as a Category 2 Tropical Cyclone, whipping waves up to 9 meters tall and bringing almost 30 centimeters of rainfall in its wake.
Air New Zealand announced all flights have been grounded and canceled, while transportation authorities have shut stretches of highway.
“Even though the deep low pressure system moves away from us early on Wednesday, the effects of Gita will last a few more days, with further rain likely about central New Zealand until Thursday,” said Lisa Murray at MetService in Wellington, according to New Scientist.
A report by MetService confirmed severe weather is still in store for New Zealand and has since issued a warning for heavy rain and severe gales. Many are currently without power.
Our thoughts are with those impacted. For more weather updates impacting the produce industry, keep up with the latest with AndNowUKnow.
