Tropical Cyclone Lusi

Tropical Cyclone Lusi has almost left New Zealand now without having caused too much damage. The Far North and Auckland experienced heavy rain and strong winds yesterday. Some places lost their electricity for a few hours.

The organizers of Polyfest, a 4-day event involving Polynesian performances from 62 schools, decided to postpone the last day (Saturday) until Tuesday 18th. They were worried about the safety of students and the public in the bad weather.

When Cyclone Lusi started in the Pacific, it was a Category 3 storm but by the time it arrived in the Far North it was only Category 2. Last night it moved down the North Island to Wellington where it was a strong gale but Wellington is used to strong gales. Today in Christchurch it was very wet and there was some flooding but it was not as bad as expected. The wind had died down by morning.

The storm has now moved to Nelson where rain has caused slips on the road with falling rocks. People were warned not to go out unless it was absolutely necessary.

Vocabulary

• cyclone – has low pressure in the centre and the wind moves clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere
• gale – wind storm
• slips – soil and rocks fall from the side of a hill, usually because of rain
• absolutely – totally (Note: this word is very common; it’s used to make the meaning stronger)

Grammar

• Past perfect – ‘the wind had died down by morning’. This past event occurred before the rain and flooding later today
• Present perfect – to show it started some time in the past and is still continuing ‘the storm has now moved . . . rain has caused slips’
• unless – but if, only if. The meaning of the last sentence is “don’t go out; go out only if it’s really necessary