Storm Leaves Thousands Without Power In New Zealand

Storm Leaves Thousands Without Power In New Zealand

Thousands of homes in New Zealand were without power and flights were grounded Monday as a tropical storm lashed the north of the country.

Cyclone Gabrielle is tracking north-east of New Zealand and the center of the storm is expected to be off the coast of largest city Auckland late Monday or early Tuesday.

Officials are warning people to be ready for high seas and storm surges, surface flooding, falling trees and landslips. Some residents in low-lying areas north of Auckland and on the East Coast have been urged to self-evacuate.

“The worst is yet to come,” Prime Minister Chris Hipkins told reporters Monday in Wellington. “We have to adapt and respond as the weather that we are dealing with changes.”

Residents and business owners across the upper North Island have been preparing for the wild weather for several days as forecasters monitored the cyclone, which began in the Coral Sea and proceeded southwards across Norfolk Island toward New Zealand.

The storm is set to shift and impact eastern areas Tuesday.

Officials said almost 50,000 homes were without power and some may be impacted for several days as crews battle high winds and difficult terrain to reconnect wires.

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