Severe Weather Warnings and Watches

Issued by MetService at 8:28pm Saturday 20 Sep 2025

Heavy rain and severe north to northwest gales for southern and central New Zealand late Saturday and Sunday

An active front, preceded by a strong north to northwest flow, moves northeast over the South Island during Sunday then becomes slow moving over central New Zealand Sunday night.

Warnings and Watches for heavy rain and strong winds are in force for much of southern and central New Zealand, including a RED Warning for severe northwest gales for parts of inland Canterbury.

Please stay up to date with forecasts.

Strong Wind Warning - Red

Area: Canterbury about and west of SH1

Period: 17hrs from 10:00pm Saturday 20 Sep 2025 to 3:00pm Sunday 21 Sep 2025

Forecast: Severe gale northwesterlies with damaging gusts of 150 km/h in exposed places.

Impact: Threat to life from flying items and falling trees. Destructive winds will cause widespread damage including powerlines and roofs, with dangerous driving conditions and significant disruption to transport and power supply.

Action: Stay indoors or seek sturdy shelter away from trees. Avoid travel. Be ready for power and communication outages.

Heavy Rain Warning - Orange

Area: Buller, also about the Spencer Mountains and St Arnaud Range

Period: 11hrs from 6:00am Sunday 21 Sep 2025 to 5:00pm Sunday 21 Sep 2025

Forecast: Expect 70 to 110 mm of rain, especially about the ranges. Peak rates of 10 to 20 mm/h expected late Sunday morning and afternoon.
Minimal chance of upgrading to a Red Warning.

Impact: Streams and rivers may rise rapidly. Surface flooding, slips, and difficult driving conditions possible.

Action: Clear your drains and gutters to prepare for heavy rain. Avoid low-lying areas and drive cautiously.

Area: Tasman northwest of Motueka

Period: 12hrs from 9:00am Sunday 21 Sep 2025 to 9:00pm Sunday 21 Sep 2025

Forecast: Expect 100 to 140 mm of rain. Peak rates of 10 to 20 mm/h expected from Sunday afternoon.
Minimal chance of upgrading to a Red Warning.

Impact: Streams and rivers may rise rapidly. Surface flooding, slips, and difficult driving conditions possible.

Action: Clear your drains and gutters to prepare for heavy rain. Avoid low-lying areas and drive cautiously.

Area: Headwaters of the Otago lakes and rivers

Period: 7hrs from 1:00am Sunday 21 Sep 2025 to 8:00am Sunday 21 Sep 2025

Forecast: Expect 100 to 160 mm of rain about the main divide, and 80 to 120 mm within 25 km farther east. Peak rates of 15 to 25 mm/h expected about the divide. Freezing level 2200 metres.
Minimal chance of upgrading to a Red Warning.

Impact: Streams and rivers may rise rapidly. Surface flooding, slips, and difficult driving conditions possible.

Action: Clear your drains and gutters to prepare for heavy rain. Avoid low-lying areas and drive cautiously.

Area: Ranges of the Westland District

Period: 12hrs from 12:00am Sunday 21 Sep 2025 to 12:00pm Sunday 21 Sep 2025

Forecast: Expect 120 to 180 mm of rain. Peak rates of 20 to 30 mm/h expected.
Minimal chance of upgrading to a Red Warning.

Impact: Streams and rivers may rise rapidly. Surface flooding, slips, and difficult driving conditions possible.

Action: Clear your drains and gutters to prepare for heavy rain. Avoid low-lying areas and drive cautiously.

Area: Headwaters of the Canterbury lakes and rivers

Period: 12hrs from 3:00am Sunday 21 Sep 2025 to 3:00pm Sunday 21 Sep 2025

Forecast: Expect 120 to 180 mm of rain about the main divide, and 100 to 150 mm within 30 km farther east. Peak rates of 20 to 30 mm/h expected Sunday morning. Freezing level 2200 metres.
Minimal chance of upgrading to a Red Warning.

Impact: Streams and rivers may rise rapidly. Surface flooding, slips, and difficult driving conditions possible.

Action: Clear your drains and gutters to prepare for heavy rain. Avoid low-lying areas and drive cautiously.

Area: Fiordland about and north of Doubtful Sound

Period: 8hrs from 10:00pm Saturday 20 Sep 2025 to 6:00am Sunday 21 Sep 2025

Forecast: Expect 90 to 120 mm of rain. Peak rates of 15 to 25 mm/h expected.
Minimal chance of upgrading to a Red Warning.

Impact: Streams and rivers may rise rapidly. Surface flooding, slips, and difficult driving conditions possible.

Action: Clear your drains and gutters to prepare for heavy rain. Avoid low-lying areas and drive cautiously.

Strong Wind Warning - Orange

Area: Southland

Period: 7hrs from 11:00pm Saturday 20 Sep 2025 to 6:00am Sunday 21 Sep 2025

Forecast: Severe gale north to northwesterlies gusting 120 km/h in exposed places.
Minimal chance of upgrading to a Red Warning.

Impact: Damage to trees, powerlines, and unsecured structures possible. Driving may be difficult, especially for high-sided vehicles and motorcycles.

Action: Prepare your property by securing items that can be picked up by strong winds. Drive cautiously.

Area: Westland District

Period: 8hrs from 2:00am Sunday 21 Sep 2025 to 10:00am Sunday 21 Sep 2025

Forecast: Severe gale north to northeasterlies gusting 120 km/h in exposed places.
Minimal chance of upgrading to a Red Warning.

Impact: Damage to trees, powerlines, and unsecured structures possible. Driving may be difficult, especially for high-sided vehicles and motorcycles.

Action: Prepare your property by securing items that can be picked up by strong winds. Drive cautiously.

Area: Canterbury east of SH1

Period: 12hrs from 3:00am Sunday 21 Sep 2025 to 3:00pm Sunday 21 Sep 2025

Forecast: Severe gale north to northwesterlies gusting 120 km/h in exposed places, especially about Banks Peninsula.
Low chance of upgrading to a Red Warning.

Impact: Damage to trees, powerlines, and unsecured structures possible. Driving may be difficult, especially for high-sided vehicles and motorcycles.

Action: Prepare your property by securing items that can be picked up by strong winds. Drive cautiously.

Area: Queenstown Lakes, Central Otago and inland parts of North Otago, Dunedin and Clutha

Period: 8hrs from 12:00am Sunday 21 Sep 2025 to 8:00am Sunday 21 Sep 2025

Forecast: Severe gale north to northwesterlies gusting 120 km/h in exposed places.
Minimal chance of upgrading to a Red Warning.

Impact: Damage to trees, powerlines, and unsecured structures possible. Driving may be difficult, especially for high-sided vehicles and motorcycles.

Action: Prepare your property by securing items that can be picked up by strong winds. Drive cautiously.

Area: Fiordland

Period: 9hrs from 8:00pm Saturday 20 Sep 2025 to 5:00am Sunday 21 Sep 2025

Forecast: Severe gale northerlies gusting 120 km/h in exposed places.
Minimal chance of upgrading to a Red Warning.

Impact: Damage to trees, powerlines, and unsecured structures possible. Driving may be difficult, especially for high-sided vehicles and motorcycles.

Action: Prepare your property by securing items that can be picked up by strong winds. Drive cautiously.

Area: Wellington, Wairarapa south of Greytown and the Marlborough Sounds

Period: 18hrs from 4:00am Sunday 21 Sep 2025 to 10:00pm Sunday 21 Sep 2025

Forecast: Severe gale north to northwesterlies gusting 120 km/h in exposed places.
Minimal chance of upgrading to a Red Warning.

Impact: Damage to trees, powerlines, and unsecured structures possible. Driving may be difficult, especially for high-sided vehicles and motorcycles.

Action: Prepare your property by securing items that can be picked up by strong winds. Drive cautiously.

Area: Marlborough excluding the Sounds

Period: 18hrs from 12:00am Sunday 21 Sep 2025 to 6:00pm Sunday 21 Sep 2025

Forecast: Severe gale northwesterlies gusting 120 km/h in exposed places.
Minimal chance of upgrading to a Red Warning.

Impact: Damage to trees, powerlines, and unsecured structures possible. Driving may be difficult, especially for high-sided vehicles and motorcycles.

Action: Prepare your property by securing items that can be picked up by strong winds. Drive cautiously.

Heavy Rain Watch - Yellow

Area: Richmond and Bryant ranges, also the Rai Valley

Period: 14hrs from 12:00pm Sunday 21 Sep 2025 to 2:00am Monday 22 Sep 2025

Forecast: Periods of heavy rain, and amounts may approach warning criteria.
Moderate chance of upgrading to a Warning.

Strong Wind Watch - Yellow

Area: South Taranaki, inland and western Whanganui and Taihape

Period: 9hrs from 6:00am Sunday 21 Sep 2025 to 3:00pm Sunday 21 Sep 2025

Forecast: Northerly winds may approach severe gale in exposed places.
Moderate chance of upgrading to a Warning.

Area: Grey District

Period: 7hrs from 4:00am Sunday 21 Sep 2025 to 11:00am Sunday 21 Sep 2025

Forecast: North to northeast winds may approach severe gale in exposed places.
Moderate chance of upgrading to a Warning.

An update for severe weather will be issued by: 10:00am Sunday 21 Sep 2025

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Action advice supplied by the National Emergency Management Agency.

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