(The Guardian) Communities across New Zealand’s North Island – some still recovering from flooding from record rain just weeks ago – are bracing for a “potentially devastating” weather event as ex-tropical cyclone Gabrielle barrels towards the region. “We are looking down the barrel of a very severe and potentially devastating weather event,” said Rachel Kelleher, deputy controller of Auckland Emergency Management. “This is not a system to ignore, the worst is yet to come,” the agency said on Twitter on Sunday. On Saturday night, the cyclone passed over Norfolk Island, an Australian territory, downing trees, blocking roads and causing power outages. “But there’s a clearly a global warming signature to this,” he said, pointing to the long-term warming of oceans.

Source: The Guardian February 12, 2023 05:33 UTC