New Zealand braces for a huge storm in the coming days as weather forecasters warn that an impending cyclone could be one of the “most serious storms of the century”.

Residents of Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city, are being asked to prepare for cyclone Gabrielle.

Forecasters expected to it bring heavy rain to the upper North Island, including Auckland, causing severe gales, large waves and storm surges.

Schools and flights are canceled.

New Zealand weather forecaster WeatherWatch said the cyclone, which will most likely become a Category 3 cyclone this weekend, will reach the country between Sunday and Tuesday.

Category 3 storms have winds of 119-157 kilometers per hour, with gusts up to 224 kph.

Aljazeera.