Former Cyclone Fehi ripped open an old rubbish dump at Cobden Beach, Greymouth, scattering tens of thousands of plastic bags across the coast. Photo / Tony Kokshoorn
West Coasters are "preparing for the worst and hoping for the best", as the second former cyclone in three weeks barrels towards them.
Former Cyclone Gita is moving quickly towards the top of the South Island today, bringing wind gusts of more than 150km/h in places, heavy rain and northwest swells of 8 to 9m.
MetService meteorologist Nick Zachar said the system was expected to hit Farewell Spit and move across the top of the South Island from about 7 or 8pm today.
Rain bands associated with the system are already covering parts of the country with some heavy downpours from Nelson and Marlborough through to Taranaki overnight and this morning.
Heavy rain has also started to fall across the West Coast, but the region's mayors are holding off declaring a state of emergency for now. The region is predicted to get 200mm of rain, wind gusts of 150km/h, and sea surges.
Comparing our fresh-off-the-press high resolution model guidance with the previous run -- strong consistency across the South Island for heavy rainfall, peaking late Tuesday. Watch for flooding and slips! pic.twitter.com/x0vv9GjpRJ
— NIWA Weather (@NiwaWeather) February 19, 2018
Grey District Mayor Tony Kokshoorn said they would meet again before midday to decide if a state of emergency was needed. The decision will hinge on whether they think lives are threatened.
"We've got a good response team through the West Coast that are ready to act. We don't see that situation yet, but it can unravel quickly.
"Things like unsecure roofing iron, or river levels coming up very quickly. But midday is when things really start building in intensity, that's why we're meeting again then."
The Ministry of Education has closed schools in the area, and Kokshoorn said that took some of the pressure off them.
"We would have had a lot of young people at school, then needing to go home at 3pm when the storm is really starting to crank up.
"It was a real worry for Civil Defence.
"The ministry made a very responsible decision, and it's taken a lot of pressure off Civil Defence here on the West Coast."
6 hours of IR satellite imagery, courtesy of JMA, shows#CycloneGita bearing down on NZ. All the deep convection (whiter/coloured areas) now significantly south of the rotating low centre. Latest Severe Weather Warnings are at https://t.co/Sd5C6lrsSL ^RK pic.twitter.com/ngdIOmjBj4
— MetService (@MetService) February 19, 2018
Kokshoorn said similar strong easterly winds came with Cyclone Ita in 2014.
"The gusts then ripped roofs off houses, and the gusts with Gita are predicted to be similar and hang around for 36 hours.
"We are really worried about roofs coming off houses.
"Some buildings and trees are still being secured [after Fehi], and there are fears [Gita] will exacerbate those issues.
"We want everyone to be safe and secure all of their stuff."
The roof of Revington's Hotel, on Greymouth's main street, was partially pulled off during Fehi.
The derelict building had already been earmarked for demolition and was now a safety hazard.
"The owners have secured it as much as they can, but it is in the main street so could be dangerous."
Another concern was the former rubbish dump near Cobden Beach, which had its side ripped out by a storm surge during Fehi, scattering tens of thousands of plastic bags along the coast.
Since then the council had begun securing the site by building a rock wall.
"It is much more secure than it was two weeks ago. We are also not expecting the storm surges to be as bad as with Fehi either."
Westland Civil Defence public information manager Andy Thompson said they were all getting prepared.
"We are very much preparing for the worst, and absolutely hoping for the best.
"There is about the most preparation I have ever seen for an event on the West Coast.
"The storm has been pretty well flagged, and the former cyclone two weeks ago is still very fresh for people here.
"[During Fehi] some people lost power for a day or two, so people are taking this storm very seriously, taking precautions and being sensible."
"We have people and resources, including generators, at hand to assist those hit the hardest and the community's most vulnerable people," Thompson said.
The community had been stocking up on food, buying extra batteries and filling bathtubs with water, in case power outages meant they could not pump water.
"The level of preparation is good to see," Thompson said.
"People are deferring travel, and kids are home from school in Westland, Grey and Buller districts for the next two days.
Brand new track map has path slightly to the north of previous track. #CycloneGita Warnings and Watches still in place https://t.co/qHyE5zhh6X ^RK pic.twitter.com/lUP3Zeqx9j
— MetService (@MetService) February 19, 2018
Buildings partially damaged in former Cyclone Fehi at the beginning of February were a "major concern".
"On the West Coast the major concern is not so much the heavy rain but the strong winds and storm surges," Thompson said.
"They are predicting the winds to come from the southeast, which can be extremely damaging here, particularly in rural areas where they funnel down the valleys picking up speed.
"That is what caused the most damage during Cyclone Ita in 2014, when we had winds of 140 to 160km/h.
"We expect the worst hit area to be Karamea, which is looking to be right in the eye of the storm."
Hector woman Anne Crawford was going to ride out the storm on the top floor of her house.
She said Cyclone Fehi had killed trees and shrubbery which was helpful in holding back the sea. She feared flooding may be worse with the barren landscape.
"The previous cyclone has destroyed many trees, people's gardens were burnt with the salt wind, they were holding back some of the sea.
"You can see right through to the beach now.
"If the water comes across the road this time there are going to be issues."
Okari resident Jennifer Brownlee was feeling nervous about the incoming cyclone as she cooked breakfast. But the weather had not kicked up yet.
"At the moment you wouldn't dream anything would happen."
Kat Luper, from Carters Beach TOP10 Holiday Park, said they had a few campers tucked away in sheltered spots but they had an evacuation plan if needed. She said seals from the nearby colony were likely to go out to sea to avoid the stormy conditions.
Karamea resident Ray Douglas said people were still recovering from Fehi.
"There is a real possibility those people could be affected again too."
"The winds are a real concern. When Ita came through it ripped out tens of thousands of hectares of native trees.
"It flattened everything in its path. There is not a lot of preparation you can do for something like that."
The rain was not too much of a concern as it had been a "pretty dry summer".
"It has more or less been a drought. The rivers are very low so the chance of flooding is low.
"The main area of concern is Granity, which could experience tidal surges of 6 to 8m.
"That area has already seen an increase in storm surges. When that comes through today it could take out properties."
Everybody was well aware and informed about the storm, he said.
"Civil Defence have been on the job very early."
Punakaiki Tavern owner Lorraine Ryder has told guests to head south to avoid being trapped by slips, and workers have been told to stay home.
Ryder says the tavern is very low, but well built.
She says they've installed a booster in the tavern to improve the cellphone signal - but it's not a guarantee.
Ryder says they're feeling well-informed and prepared for their second ex cyclone this month.
West Coast Surf surfing coach Mark Perana, based in Tauranga Bay south of Westport, said he was unsure how big the swells would get.
"It is looking pretty nice out there now, the calm before the storm, so I am going to try and get out there before we have to go and hunker down.
"With Fehi we had waves breaking over rocks 20 feet high [6m], and this is meant to be even bigger."
Latest (& last) tracking map from JTWC (as #CycloneGita loses the tropical portion - but remains Cat 2 with 100km/h sustained winds). This afternoon/tonight we use satellite & radar to help fine tune the most severe weather, along with Government Agency, MetService, for tracking. pic.twitter.com/OabW9ZZgTf
— WeatherWatch.co.nz (@WeatherWatchNZ) February 19, 2018
The big swell approaching created opportunities for big wave surfers in the area, he said.
"In some areas you will be able to get the ride of your life, but if you are in the wrong spot you will be in for an ugly beating.
It would be pretty "ugly" today, but could settle down over the next few days creating some excellent conditions in certain places.
"Some of the local boys with big boards might be giving it a go. I expect it to be 20 feet plus.
"But it gets scary out there when it is that big, and there are other things in the water scarier than the waves with the spot right next to a seal colony."
Tropical Cyclone Gita was re-classified as a former tropical cyclone about 1am today.
In its earlier stages as a tropical cyclone, Gita battered Samoa, Tonga, southern Fiji and parts of New Caledonia.
Civil Defence warned Waikato weather remains 'highly dynamic'.