Re: Ex-Tropical Cyclone Gita impacts NZ Feb 18th-21st

harveyt86 · Unread post by **harveyt86** » Tue 20/02/2018 11:31

I see metservice have upped the wind gust forecast for Wellington to 140kph this evening in the latest SWW..

If Gita doesn't make that slight southward turn soon like the models are predicting she could potentially skirt the top of the S.I. and surprise those in the lower N.I. this evening.

NZ Thunderstorm Soc · Tue 20/02/2018 11:48

I see SH 1 is closed around Kaikoura. I thought that would be the case with this event.

Lawrence · Unread post by **Lawrence** » Tue 20/02/2018 12:08

25.2 mm in the past 12 hours.
I can imagine that once the roots of trees are thoughly soaked and the ground more sodden a few trees will be brought crashing down once that wind picks up.
What makes it worse also is that most trees are still in full leaf and means more liable to go over.

NZ Thunderstorm Soc · Tue 20/02/2018 12:27

Really wet down here, with another 40mm of rain since 10pm, last night and no sign of it letting up.

Wildland · Unread post by **Wildland** » Tue 20/02/2018 12:49

Rain has eased at Tawa, north of Wellington. 40 mm since midnight.
Still calm, low cloud and mist.

I note that most Air NZ flights to and from Wellington airport are cancelled from early afternoon.
Only a handful of Air NZ flights to and from Auckland, Dunedin and Queenstown still showing on the schedule for today. Qantas, Virgin, Jetstar and feeder airline flights still on the list though.

https://www.wellingtonairport.co.nz/flights/

joecam · Unread post by **joecam** » Tue 20/02/2018 13:03

Wind has picked up with moderate rain in Westport. The outside chairs at the Cafe just blew over......Might be a news story

Richard · Unread post by **Richard** » Tue 20/02/2018 13:40

Rainfall total starting to stack up now , 34mm so far and the heavier period yet to arrive

03Stormchaser · Unread post by **03Stormchaser** » Tue 20/02/2018 14:04

joecam wrote: ↑Tue 20/02/2018 13:03 Wind has picked up with moderate rain in Westport. The outside chairs at the Cafe just blew over......Might be a news story

Probably not far enough North tbh. Cracked 20mm here, overnight still looks a worry

Rogue · Unread post by **Rogue** » Tue 20/02/2018 14:10

Will try and get some footage from the Kapiti Coast tonight, I imagine high tide at 1.36am coinciding with the big swell could cause some issues

melja · Unread post by **melja** » Tue 20/02/2018 14:21

I've cracked 60mm , rain is only light in chch compared to north of the waimak
Edit. Only 41mm
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Razor · Unread post by **Razor** » Tue 20/02/2018 14:26

30mm for us so far- still the calm before the storm it seems. Avon running high already

Razor · Unread post by **Razor** » Tue 20/02/2018 14:33

One Kaikoura site already displaying 150mm, this could be in error when looking at all the others around it which are reading less than half??

https://www.ecan.govt.nz/data/rainfall- ... ils/234511

Dean. · Unread post by **Dean.** » Tue 20/02/2018 14:39

38mm here rain getting heavier

melja · Unread post by **melja** » Tue 20/02/2018 14:56

State of emergency declared in chch

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Razor · Unread post by **Razor** » Tue 20/02/2018 14:57

Yes indeed:

Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel has declared a State of Emergency for Christchurch City, which includes Banks Peninsula, due to the impacts of ex-tropical Cyclone Gita.

Latest forecasts show the region is set for heavy rain and high winds, with potentially serious impacts. Banks Peninsula is expected to bear the brunt of the storm.

The Declaration highlights the severity of the potential impacts of the weather, and gives people early warning to prepare.

“The full impact of the storm will be felt overnight and tomorrow morning. We are expecting homes to be flooded. If you are in a flood-prone area, particularly if your home was flooded, or close to flooding, in the July storm last year, you should consider evacuation before the worst of the storm hits tonight,” Lianne Dalziel says.

“We think it’s better people make preparations while it is still light, and ahead of road closures, to allow them to get out if they wish.”

“Part of Clarendon Terrace has been closed already, and we expect further streets to close over the course of the afternoon and evening. These will not reopen until the risk of flooding has gone.”

Given the storm could cause flooding, slips and fallen trees on Banks Peninsula, we are urging people in rural areas to stay off the road, particularly after dark. Farmers should move stock from low lying areas and creeks prone to flooding. Peninsula residents working in the city should consider going home early.

People in low-lying areas should move valuable possessions up high, and move cars to higher ground.

“This is an unpredictable weather event. We want people to be as prepared as they can be,” she said.

Rolling updates including the latest road closures can be found at www.ccc.govt.nz/newsline and the Council’s Facebook page. Check out Metservice for the latest forecasts.

Anyone concerned should call the Customer Contact Centre on 03 941 8999 or 0800 800 169.

joecam · Unread post by **joecam** » Tue 20/02/2018 15:08

03Stormchaser wrote: ↑Tue 20/02/2018 14:04
joecam wrote: ↑Tue 20/02/2018 13:03 Wind has picked up with moderate rain in Westport. The outside chairs at the Cafe just blew over......Might be a news story
Probably not far enough North tbh. Cracked 20mm here, overnight still looks a worry

Heading to Karamea-Hector thats the patch I'm doing today/tonight. Very windy here gusts maybe 40km/h at a conservative guess. Very light rain currently at Waimarie SH67

Lawrence · Unread post by **Lawrence** » Tue 20/02/2018 15:43

Southerly picking up here now.

Razor · Unread post by **Razor** » Tue 20/02/2018 15:49

Lawrence wrote: ↑Tue 20/02/2018 15:43 Southerly picking up here now.

Still dead calm here, very steady rain

midgrove · Unread post by **midgrove** » Tue 20/02/2018 16:00

55mm here in Blenheim since 6am, other parts of Marlborough up to 90mm so far. At 4pm Westport had lowest pressure of 985 with SE 34 knots and almost 10Hpa pressure fall in previous 3 hours. Landfall between Farewell Spit and Westport still looking most likely in my opinion. SE wind just picked up in last 10 minutes after being mostly calm all day.

melja · Unread post by **melja** » Tue 20/02/2018 16:19

Huge flood of 2000cumecs expected in the Ashley River at Rangiora, design capacity is only 2000 too. Up to 70mm now with torrential rain.

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Cyclone Tracy · Unread post by **Cyclone Tracy** » Tue 20/02/2018 16:40

Far outer reach up here bottomed at 1000.9, highest gusts 50 to 60 km/h gusts and 7mm. Back to sunshine now

Gita is moving in... here is how I see the 4pm sat pic with pressure observations.

Blowy · Unread post by **Blowy** » Tue 20/02/2018 16:54

That's a disaster in the making for Marlborough grapes growers a few weeks out from harvest, second shite vintage in a row.

TonyT · Unread post by **TonyT** » Tue 20/02/2018 16:54

Rainfall intensity here has backed off in the last hour, was 5-6mm per hour for most of the afternoon, now back to 3-4mm per hour. 50mm so far.

Thunder081 · Unread post by **Thunder081** » Tue 20/02/2018 16:59

I'm at Westport and the wind is intense! Sea spray being whipped up a lot

Richard · Unread post by **Richard** » Tue 20/02/2018 17:02

TonyT wrote: ↑Tue 20/02/2018 16:54 Rainfall intensity here has backed off in the last hour, was 5-6mm per hour for most of the afternoon, now back to 3-4mm per hour. 50mm so far.

It backed off for a while too, but its gotten heavier again now, she's coming your way, just short of 50mm also,

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