Updated: 6:35am – As Kiwis pick their kids up from school and make the commute home from work, Cyclone Gita is expected to make landfall across the country.
And with it, forecasters predict powerful swells of 7m, rapidly rising streams and rivers, flooding and winds of up to 140km/h.
Authorities in the Marlborough Sounds have told campers to abandon their positions to be safe, while schools in the Buller region will close. West Coast leaders will decide this morning whether to declare a state of emergency.
The category 2 storm is forecast to reach the country by this afternoon, continuing through to tomorrow morning.
Gita is tracking southeast towards New Zealand while transforming into an extra-tropical cyclone and would move southeast across central New Zealand today.
People are being advised to secure property and items that may be blown away by the severe gales expected.
For the North Island, coastal areas from Raglan southwards to southern Wairarapa were most at risk, while for the South Island, the risk of coastal inundation was greatest for areas from Buller and North Canterbury northwards, MetService said.
Heavy rain warnings were in place for Nelson, Buller, Marlborough (including Kaikoura Coast), Wellington, Westland and the Canterbury High Country.
Strong wind warnings were in place for Taranaki, Taihape, Whanganui, Nelson and Buller, Marlborough, Westland and Canterbury.
Yesterday, Associate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter, Climate Change Minister James Shaw and Civil Defence Minister Kris Faafoi were updated on the progress of Gita at the MetService headquarters in Wellington.
West Coast Civil Defence had intended to make a call whether they would declare a state of emergency on Monday but had opted to make the decision this morning, authorities said.
It advised people not to travel during the storm, and closed all local schools.
The Nelson and Tasman Civil Defence (CD) warned the power of Gita will be similar to that of ex-cyclone Fehi which battered and flooded several properties two weeks ago.
Those same properties were likely to be affected again.
The storm would also likely result in surface flooding on roads making travel around the region difficult.
Winds of up to 140km/h had the potential to topple trees and make driving difficult.
Marlborough District Council Communications Manager Glyn Walters said they were concerned for trampers and campers who might be relying on tents but that the locals would be able to bunker down if they had sufficient supplies.
But many campsites in the region have reported having full accommodation, or busier than normal bookings due to freedom campers seeking a populated safe haven.
“We are having more people come in because it is mainly the tourist trade now and they are running for cover,” a Motueka Top 10 Holiday Park spokeswoman said.
A spokeswoman for Marahau Beach Camp, near Abel Tasman National Park, said only a few campers had left because they were worried about the storm, while most were trying to find accommodation in cabins or at backpackers.
While tourists on the West Coast were also reported to be exuding a “cruisey” attitude about the approaching storm.
“Everyone is cruisey and will worry about it tomorrow. We have to wait to see if it hits or not,” a Greymouth Seaside TOP 10 Holiday Park spokesman said.
While Carters Beach Top 10 Holiday Park owner Chrissy Alfeld said they were focusing on keeping people informed and safe.
Meanwhile the Mountain Safety Council warned the storm was not to be underestimated, advising people to stay away from rivers and consider postponing outdoor activities.
People heading outdoors in the next 48 hours needed to be prepared to change their plans, chief executive Mike Daisley said.
“The right decision may be to postpone your trip until the weather settles down.”
-NewstalkZB
Featured image: Gita will bring significant swells to many central and western areas, as well as the east coast of the South Island. Photo: MetService
