Emergency declared in much of South Island
Radio New Zealand
Auckland, Wednesday (625 am)
February 21, 2018
Thousands have been left without power and states of emergency remain in place after former tropical Cyclone Gita whipped through the country.
The Christchurch City, Taranaki, Nelson Tasman, Westland, Grey and Selwyn Councils have a state of emergency in place to deal with widespread flooding and disruption.
The Buller District was also under a state of emergency but that has now been lifted.
Fire and Emergency have said almost 500 people made emergency calls yesterday and through the night.
5000 people affected
At least 5000 people in Golden Bay and Collingwood are cut off after heavy rain brought down slips, closing the road in three places on Takaka Hill and State Highway 1 into Kaikura has been closed by slips.
Also, in the South Island, about 200 tourists are still trapped after in south Westland after spending the night in their buses or in welfare centres after State Highway 6 was closed.
MetService said the very worst of the weather was likely over, and conditions were expected to ease as Gita moves away today.
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The Weather Watch adds at 7 am today:
Auckland, February 21, 2018
The main low-pressure system associated with Ex-Tropical Cyclone Gita lies east of the South Island today meanwhile another low sits west of the South Island.
A Northwest airflow lies over the North Island. A low-moves over the North Island on Thursday while South Westerlies ease further South.
A few showers for Western parts of the North Island today, more likely Taranaki southwards but a few are possible further north also especially this morning. Any morning cloud clears the Bay of Plenty then mostly sunny.
Rain or showers for most South Island regions, heavy rain Banks Peninsula southwards eases this morning, not easing about parts of Otago till late afternoon/evening.
Expect gale southwesterly winds for the coastal parts of the eastern South Island, severe gales possible out on Banks Peninsula. These winds will gradually ease during the day.
Strong North Westerlies through Cook Strait ease in the afternoon then winds change southerly in the evening bringing some rain.
Most North Island regions will see showers, easing during the afternoon in the west and sunny areas then developing.
In the East, conditions are dry at first then showers push northwards with a southwest change. Early rain about central New Zealand which may be heavy eases.
Morning showers about the lower South Island and some eastern coastal areas clears then drying out in the afternoon, sunnier conditions out West.
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