A state of emergency is declared in many parts of New Zealand as Cyclone Gita makes landfall and divides into two storms!
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Situation Update
As Cyclone Gita approaches the country central New Zealand is bracing for heavy rain and high winds.
Dozens of schools and some roads have already been closed on the West Coast and Nelson today. Westland District Council Emergency Operations Centre activated this morning at 11am.
Grey District has followed Buller and Christchurch in declaring a state of emergency.
Grey District Council says the move is a precaution at this stage as the predicted weather is showing the worst is still to come.
State Highway Six is closed from Hokitika to Franz Josef, with an update due at 9 am tomorrow Morning.
The storm is expected to intensity from 6pm and last for at least 12 hours with the wind intensity significant from 4pm through to 10pm. Gale force southeast winds are currently hitting South Westland especially Hari Hari and Whataroa.
Rainfall totals are expected to be in the range of 90mm to 120mm.
A state of emergency is declared in many parts of New Zealand as Cyclone Gita makes landfall and incredibly is set to split into two storms later today.
Serious wind damage and flooding are expected as the South Island will become sandwiched by the two storms after dark.
According to The New Zealand Herald, the ex-tropical cyclone is causing flooding, with winds up to 140km/h and waves up to 7m
A state of emergency declared in Christchurch, Buller District, Grey District, Selwyn, Westland, Tasman and Taranaki
Heavy rain and strong wind warnings are in place for most of central New Zealand including Wellington, Whanganui, Taranaki, Nelson, Buller, Marlborough (including Kaikoura Coast), Westland and the Canterbury high country
Flights and trains have been cancelled, and SH1, north and south of Kaikoura, is closed.
Despite Gita no longer being the monster it was when it left a trail of destruction from American Samoa to Tonga last week, damage and flooding remain concerns across New Zealand.
"Gita will still be a powerful storm as it blasts into New Zealand through Tuesday night, local time," AccuWeather Meteorologist Jake Sojda said.
The winds may be strong enough to cause tree damage and some power outages.
Rough seas will also get stirred up, creating dangerous conditions for boaters
SEE VIDEO
http://www.thebigwobble.org/2018/02/a-state-of-emergency-is-declared-in.html