WELLINGTON, Feb 12 (NNN-XINHUA) – The New Zealand government, urged people to prepare for Cyclone Gabrielle, after severe flooding hit the country’s largest city, Auckland, and claimed four lives two weeks ago.
Cyclone Gabrielle could bring significant severe weather to many regions of New Zealand, and the government stands ready to support communities that may be impacted, Minister for Emergency Management, Kieran McAnulty, said.
“Cyclone Gabrielle is likely to impact across the North Island with severe gales and heavy rain, forecast from today through to Tuesday,” McAnulty said.
It is difficult to predict exactly what course the cyclone will take, but if the cyclone continues on its current path, it is likely to be a severe weather event, impacting communities in Northland, Auckland, and other regions in the North Island, he said, calling on New Zealanders to get ready.
The last round of record rainfall caused massive flooding to houses and properties since Jan 27, with a state of emergency declared by the government.
More than 769 percent of its rainfall in a normal Jan was recorded, which was about more than a third of Auckland’s entire annual average.
With the maximum amount of water vapour in the air increasing exponentially with temperature, the potential for extreme rainfalls grow as the climate warms, New Zealand scientists warned.– NNN-XINHUA
