NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / New Zealand

Calm before the storm: Ex-Cyclone Gita hitting New Zealand tomorrow

By Michael Neilson
NZ Herald·
18 Feb, 2018 04:26 PM6 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

MetService Tropical Cyclone Gita Update: February 17th - 21st

New Zealand is experiencing the "calm before the storm" as Tropical Cyclone Gita edges closer bringing wind gusts of more than 120km/h, heavy rain and 8 to 9 metre swells.

Air New Zealand is now warning of "major disruptions" as Gita hits tomorrow, with predictions of wind gusts topping 120km/h.

⚠️ 💨 🌧 Be prepared! Tropical Cyclone Gita is forecast to reach New Zealand tomorrow morning and we are expecting major disruptions. Keep updated here 👉 https://t.co/WJhnWODV7r

— Air New Zealand✈️ (@FlyAirNZ) February 18, 2018

Metservice meteorologist Nick Zachar said this morning's tracking update showed the brunt of the storm approaching from the top of the South Island, from Westport through to Farewell Spit.

The category 2 cyclone, which ravaged Tonga and parts of Samoa, southern Fiji and New Caledonia, is now in the Tasman Sea.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

#TCGita transitions into an ordinary Low pressure centre Tuesday night. As it crosses central New Zealand, it brings significant swells to many central and western areas, as well as the east coast of the South Island. Here's a swell forecast for Tuesday around 11pm. ^AB pic.twitter.com/5tKrxrBFv3

— MetService (@MetService) February 18, 2018

Gita is expected to re-curve towards the southeast today and track towards New Zealand while transforming into an ex-tropical cyclone.

Here is the latest track map for #TCGita. Remember, the shading indicates the possible variation in the track and NOT the areas being impacted by the system. Check https://t.co/bcFLKY4OUU for the current Watch areas. ^AG pic.twitter.com/mAmQmHenLo

— MetService (@MetService) February 18, 2018

"It has turned southeast now, and the weather models are quite on agreement it will come through coastal Buller and Nelson, and head east and southeast towards Cook Strait and continue pretty rapidly from there, from Tuesday and early Wednesday.

"Unfortunately some of the areas hit by Fehi will see significant rainfall this time as well."

Here's Tropical #CycloneGita's potential track with respect to the #marineheatwave: much warmer than average seas contribute to the sustainment of a warm-core low, or tropical cyclone, farther south than usual 🌡️🌊 pic.twitter.com/cJByS9FZTS

— NIWA Weather (@NiwaWeather) February 18, 2018

Mayors and council chairs in the West Coast region met on Sunday to discuss storm preparations, and would meet later again today to discuss the latest predictions.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Grey District Mayor Tony Kokshoorn said officials were considering declaring a state of emergency even before the cyclone arrives.

Kokshoorn told Newstalk ZB that the region was still recovering from the cyclone from a few weeks ago - with some roofs still off buildings in downtown Greymouth.

He says while the situation's serious and they don't want to be alarmist, they may call a state of emergency this evening after meeting at 5pm.

Declaring a state of emergency empowers officials to close or restrict roads or public places, remove dangerous structures, provide first aid, food and shelter and enter premises to rescue people.

Discover more

New Zealand

Brace yourselves: Fine weather short lived as Cyclone Gita tracks to NZ

16 Feb 07:15 PM
New Zealand

Cyclone Gita could cause 12m waves in NZ

17 Feb 12:35 AM
New Zealand

Cyclone Gita's u-turn to NZ: Who's in the firing line?

17 Feb 10:17 PM
New Zealand

Get ready for Gita: Civil Defence's new cyclone warning

18 Feb 02:45 AM

Read more: Everything you need to know about Cyclone Gita including how it might affect NZ

TC #Gita will bring strong winds to the lower North Island and upper South Island on Tuesday and Tuesday night.

The highest gusts may exceed 110 km/h across Taranaki, Wellington, Tasman, Nelson, Marlborough, and northern Canterbury.

Secure any loose items in your yard! pic.twitter.com/b08YQjlKFf

— NIWA Weather (@NiwaWeather) February 18, 2018

As the ex-cyclone approaches New Zealand it will combine with several systems already above the country, bringing heavy rain from South Taranaki through Wellington, Nelson and down to Buller through to tomorrow morning.

Rainfall of more than 100mm will be common, bringing significant flooding in the ranges, Zachar said.

Storm-force winds will hold off until Tuesday afternoon.

"Some models are indicating northwesterlies will be hitting from Taranaki to north of Christchurch, with wind gusts exceeding 120km/h common in exposed places, and much higher gusts possible as well."

North to northwest swells of 5 to 6 metres are expected to arrive on Tuesday evening through to Wednesday morning.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"But then we have the wind waves, so a combined height of 8-9m near the centre. It is certainly a potent storm."

Much of the swell will be funnelled through the Stephens Island/Cook Strait area, with 5-6m swells expected to batter the South Island's northern West Coast.

"We are going to see some significant waves coming through. Adding the wind on top, it will be quite choppy too. You certainly won't want to be on the ocean."

There is also a possibility of unseasonable snow in the Canterbury high country, as the cyclone drags cool air with it.

It may affect some of the alpine roads around Canterbury.

Metservice would be updating its severe weather warning for the storm later today.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Civil Defence is warning Kiwis to be prepared for the possibility of power cuts, water outages and road closures.

The Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management (MCDEM) said people should get together with family or housemates to make emergency plans.

MCDEM advised people to secure, or move inside, anything that could cause damage in strong winds, as well as closing windows and curtains to prevent injury from breaking windows.

People should stay inside and bring pets inside and if they have to leave, take them with.

Listen to the radio and follow the instructions of emergency services and avoiding non-essential travel during severe weather was essential, the Ministry said.

It was a fine weekend for much of the country, with Gisborne and Hastings cracking the 30C mark.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"It is really the calm before the storm," Zachar said.

Another hot day out east, with Hastings and Gisborne getting the top temperature of 31C. Wairoa also had a sultry Sunday, with a high of 31C. ^GB pic.twitter.com/ioO19qWIEK

— MetService (@MetService) February 18, 2018

Today will begin fine for most places, with cloud starting to increase through the day, and rainfall coming in parts of the country later in the day.

Some good weather news however, is that post-Gita will see an end to the humid flow drenching the country over the past few weeks.

"After Gita a cooler air mass will come through from the south. It will be a welcome relief compared to the last few weeks," Zachar said.

Today's weather

• Whangarei
Cloudy at times, chance shower. Northerlies. 28C high, 21C overnight.

• Auckland
Cloudy at times, a few showers late morning or in the afternoon. Light winds. 27C high, 21C overnight.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

• Hamilton
Often cloudy. A few showers developing early afternoon. Light winds. 28C high, 19C overnight.

• Tauranga
Often cloudy. A few showers developing early afternoon. Northerly developing afternoon. 27C high, 21C overnight.

• New Plymouth
Often cloudy. A few showers developing in the afternoon. Northerly breezes. 25C high, 20C overnight.

• Napier
High cloud gradually increasing, chance evening shower. Light northeast turning northwest evening. 30C high, 21C overnight.

• Wellington
Partly cloudy, chance shower in the north. Rain developing everywhere late evening. Gusty northerlies. 24C high, 17C overnight.

• Nelson
High cloud gradually increasing and rain developing in the evening. Light winds and sea breezes. 25C high, 17C overnight.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

• Christchurch
Fine with northwesterlies, then occasional rain from late afternoon with a southerly change. 29C high, 12C overnight.

• Dunedin
Morning rain, then partly cloudy with a few showers. Southwesterlies. 19C high, 11C overnight.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from New Zealand

New ZealandUpdated

Controversial plan for future of Takapuna Golf Course confirmed

07 Jul 12:49 AM
Auckland

Covid-19 Inquiry: Kiwis detail crippling losses, lost schooling and farewelling dying family

07 Jul 12:38 AM
New Zealand

Church fire arson: Woman appears in court

07 Jul 12:18 AM

From early mornings to easy living

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

Controversial plan for future of Takapuna Golf Course confirmed

Controversial plan for future of Takapuna Golf Course confirmed

07 Jul 12:49 AM

Auckland Council officials say its plan is very similar to what the golf club now wants.

Covid-19 Inquiry: Kiwis detail crippling losses, lost schooling and farewelling dying family

Covid-19 Inquiry: Kiwis detail crippling losses, lost schooling and farewelling dying family

07 Jul 12:38 AM
Church fire arson: Woman appears in court

Church fire arson: Woman appears in court

07 Jul 12:18 AM
Hunter who died on Stewart Island understood to have been shot

Hunter who died on Stewart Island understood to have been shot

07 Jul 12:11 AM
Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP