Residents warned to be vigilant, monitor weather watches, warningsDEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION Cyclone Fehi caused widespread destruction on the West Coast at the beginning of February, including washing out a section of the Fox Glacier access road. The cyclone will start to accelerate once it turns south-east and will pass over New Zealand "real quickly" he said. At present a range of severe weather watches is in place, extending from North Otago all the way to Taihape in the central North Island, he said, which indicates the focus area covers central New Zealand. As the cyclone's track becomes clearer over the next 24 hours, some of those watches may be upgraded to warnings. However, depending on the impact, he said Gita's passage could be a blow to people "getting their lives back together".

Source: Stuff February 18, 2018 02:33 UTC