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Forecasts and warnings may be updated at any time - always check metservice.com for the latest information.
Severe Weather by Region
North Island
- UpperWarnings/Watches
- WestWarnings/Watches
- CentralWarnings/Watches
- EastWarnings/Watches
- LowerWarnings/Watches
Other Islands
- Chatham IslandsWarnings/Watches
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings
No Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in force.
Severe Weather Warnings
Brief heavy rain for parts of the South Island and possible severe gale southerlies for the Kaikoura Coast
A front over the southern South Island is moving northeast. A low is forecast to develop on the front about the northern South Island during Wednesday afternoon or evening. These features are expected to bring a period of heavy rain to Fiordland, Westland and North Canterbury, and strong southerlies to the Kaikoura Coast. There is still some uncertainty about the future position of the low and there is a possibility of snow to relatively low levels about North Canterbury.
People are advised to keep up to date with the latest forecasts.
Heavy Rain Watch
Area: Canterbury north of Amberley, including the Kaikoura District
Period: 11hrs from 6pm Wed, 1 May - 5am Thu, 2 May
Forecast: A period of heavy rain and accumulations may approach warning criteria. Note, heavy snow is possible above about 1000 metres, but there is a chance of heavy falls to lower levels.
Area: The ranges of Westland south of Harihari
Period: 12hrs from 8pm Tue, 30 Apr - 8am Wed, 1 May
Forecast: Periods of heavy rain, and amounts may approach warning criteria.
Area: Fiordland
Period: 2hrs from 8pm - 10pm Tue, 30 Apr
Forecast: Periods of heavy rain, and amounts may approach warning criteria.
Strong Wind Watch
Area: Coastal areas of the Kaikoura District and Marlborough south of Cape Campbell
Period: 9hrs from 11pm Wed, 1 May - 8am Thu, 2 May
Forecast: Southerly winds may approach severe gale in exposed places.
Issued: 7:23pm Tue, 30 Apr
Next update: 10am Wed, 1 May
Road Snowfall Warnings
Road Snowfall Warning
Area: Lewis Pass (SH7)
Period: 6hrs from 9pm Wed, 1 May - 3am Thu, 2 May
Forecast: Snow could develop near the summit during Wednesday evening. 1 to 2 cm of snow may accumulate on the road above 900 metres Wednesday evening and early Thursday morning. There is a small chance that more snow will fall, or the snow will fall to lower levels.
Area: Arthur's Pass (SH73)
Period: 5hrs from 5pm - 10pm Wed, 1 May
Forecast: Snow showers are possible near the summit Wednesday evening and up to 1 cm of snow may accumulate above about 900 metres.
Area: Porters Pass (SH73)
Period: 6hrs from 7pm Wed, 1 May - 1am Thu, 2 May
Forecast: Snow may develop Wednesday evening and continue until early Thursday morning. 1 to 2 cm of snow, or possibly more, could accumulate above about 900 metres. There is a small chance that the snow level lowers by 100 or 200 metres.
Issued: 7:38pm Tue, 30 Apr
Next update: 11am Wed, 1 May
For more about Road Snowfall Warnings click here
Heavy Swell Warnings
No Heavy Swell Warning in force for the Wellington, Wairarapa, Kapiti and Porirua coasts.
Swell warnings are issued directly to regional authorities for other selected coasts but are not currently published here.
Weather Warning Criteria
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
In New Zealand, MetService classifies a thunderstorm as severe if one or more of the following criteria are met:
- Heavy rain from thunderstorms of 25mm/h or more.
- Large hail of 20mm diameter or more.
- Strong wind gusts from thunderstorms of 110km/h (60 knots) or more.
- Damaging tornadoes with wind speeds more than 116km/h (63 knots) - i.e. Fujita F1 or stronger.
Note: some tornadic systems such as funnel clouds, waterspouts and small land-based tornadoes are possible with thunderstorms that may not be classified as severe.
Severe Weather Warning
MetService will issue a Severe Weather Warning whenever there is an expectation that any of the following weather conditions will occur within the next 24 hours:
- Widespread* rainfall greater than 50mm within 6 hours or 100mm within 24 hours;
- Widespread* snowfall below 1000 metres on the North Island, South Canterbury or Otago - or below 500 metres elsewhere on the South Island with a snow depth of 10 centimetres within 6 hours or 25 centimetres within 24 hours;
- Widespread* severe gales with a minimum mean speed of 90km/h or frequent gusts exceeding 110km/h.
*"Widespread" means over an area of 1000 square kilometres or more.
Severe Weather Warnings are classified into one of two categories – Orange Warnings or Red Warnings – depending on the expected severity and impact of the event. The majority of warnings issued will be Orange Warnings, with Red Warnings reserved for only the most extreme weather events. For more on our colour coded warning system, and advice on how to prepare for severe weather, see our About Severe Weather Watches and Warnings page.
Severe Weather Watch
MetService will issue a Severe Weather Watch whenever there is an expectation that conditions may deteriorate to the thresholds specified for the issue of a Severe Weather Warning:
- After the next 24 hours but within 48-72 hours, or
- If there is a high level of uncertainty within the next 24 hours.
Road Snowfall Warning
MetService will issue a Road Snowfall Warning for Napier-Taupo Road (SH5), Desert Road (SH1), Remutaka Hill Road (SH2), Lewis Pass (SH7), Arthur's Pass (SH73), Porters Pass (SH73), Haast Pass (SH6), Lindis Pass (SH8), Crown Range Road, Milford Road (SH94) or Dunedin to Waitati Highway (SH1) whenever there is a likelihood of snow settling on one or more of those roads within the next 24 hours.
Disclaimer: These warnings provide information regarding expected weather conditions. They contain no information about current road conditions or about the amount of snow currently lying on any road.
Heavy Swell Warning
MetService will publish a Heavy Swell Warning for the following areas whenever there is an expectation that any of the criteria will occur within the next 24-48 hours.
The Kapiti-Porirua coast from Otaki to Cape Terawhiti:
- Combined waves of significant height 4 metres or greater from the westerly quarter (NW-SW) are expected to occur.
The Wellington south coast from Cape Terawhiti to Turakirae Head:
- Swell of 4 metres or more with a period of 14 seconds or more (from the southerly quarter) coinciding with high tide.
- Or combined waves of 6 metres or more (from the southerly quarter) coinciding with high tide.
The Wairarapa coast from Turakirae Head to Maitakona:
- Swell of 4 metres or more with a period of 14 seconds or more, coinciding with high tide.
- Or significant combined waves of 6 metres or more coinciding with high-tide.
Swell warnings are issued for other selected parts of the New Zealand coast by arrangement with Regional Councils and do not currently appear on the MetService website.
Code of Practice
Code of practice for the conveyance of advice of Severe Weather for individuals and agencies without statutory authority
Advice of severe weather is in the national interest since in most severe weather events, if sufficient warning is provided, actions to reduce the risk of loss of life and property can be taken.
Any of the following weather information may lead to public confusion:
- Is not from the organisation designated under the Meteorological Services Act 1990 to provide the meteorological warning service (the "Official Alerting Authority"), and
- Conflicts with information provided by the Official Alerting Authority, and
- Could be reasonably construed by anyone receiving it to be advice from the Official Alerting Authority about severe weather
Accordingly, persons and organisations who receive information about potential severe weather provided by the Official Alerting Authority shall:
- Pass such information on without modification.
- Pass such information on as top priority, and within 10 minutes of the time of receipt.
- Have systems in place that alert them when information about potential severe weather has been updated by the Official Alerting Authority.
- Acknowledge the Official Alerting Authority as being the source of the information when passing it on.
- Present such information in a way that maintains, and does not detract from, the reputation of the Crown or the Official Alerting Authority.
MetService is the Official Alerting Authority and provides information about potential severe weather with the stipulation that those conveying that information comply with the above Code. In the event that MetService believes there has been a breach of any of these conditions, MetService will advise the Ministry and will agree with the Ministry whether it is appropriate to suspend the provision of information about severe weather to the person or organisation that is in breach.
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MetService publishes Severe Weather Watches and Warnings, Severe Thunderstorm Watches and Warnings, and Road Snowfall Warnings via the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP).
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