New Zealand: Auckland prepares for ex

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Preparations in Auckland: 'Don't be fooled if you're not affected by Tuesday'

Photo: David Rowland / AAP / IMAGO

Residents of New Zealand's largest city, Auckland, were urged on Sunday to prepare for the effects of a storm that swept across Australia's Norfolk island overnight.

"Gabrielle," downgraded from a Category 2 cyclone to a Category 2 subtropical depression, struck Norfolk Island on Saturday night, with the most destructive winds missing the island before heading for New Zealand.

Most of the rain is expected to come Monday

Auckland was hit by record rainfall last month, causing flooding and killing four people.

The city of 1.6 million is now threatened with heavy rains, strong winds and storm surges, said Georgina Griffith, a spokeswoman for the national weather service.

"Don't be fooled if you're not affected by Tuesday," she told reporters.

Wind and rain came from the north of the country, with wind gusts of 140 km/h reported on the country's north island on Sunday afternoon.

"Rainfall levels for the next three days show that although it starts today, most of the rain is expected on Monday," the service warned.

Auckland Emergency Management said it was working to get 26 emergency shelters across the city ready in time for the wild weather arrival.

Cleanup on Norfolk

With Gabrielle getting closer, Air New Zealand has announced it will cancel several long-haul international flights on Monday, as well as flights from the Tasman and Pacific Islands and domestic flights in and out of Auckland.

Residents on the Australian island of Norfolk were busy cleaning up on Sunday after Cyclone Gabrielle swept across the tiny Pacific Outer Territory on Saturday.

According to the authorities, they were in the process of clearing debris and trees from the streets and restoring the power supply that had failed overnight.

"There is still significant cleanup to be done and it may be a while before power is restored," according to Emergency Management Norfolk Island.

ara/Reuters