Issued at 8:14am 12/04/2026

Valid from 8:14am 12/04/2026 to Midnight 12/04/2026

Cyclone Vaianu is expected to move across the northeast of the North Island today. There are many Watches and Warnings in place for severe gale winds and and heavy rain - refer to https://www.metservice.com/warnings/home for more details. Several active rainbands associated with the cyclone are expected to move across northern and central New Zealand today. There is a low risk of thunderstorms and localised downpours over the North Island and also Marlborough, Nelson and eastern Tasman as depicted on the chart, easing in Northland and northern Auckland late morning. However, there is a moderate risk of localised downpours for Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty including Rotorua, northern Gisborne/Tairawhiti this morning and afternoon, and also for Hawke's Bay south of Napier, Tararua District, Wairarapa and Marlborough this afternoon and evening with rainfall intensities of 25 to 40 mm/hr. There is also a residual low risk of thunderstorms about Fiordland with an weakening front this morning and afternoon. Elsewhere, the risk of significant convection or thunderstorms is minimal.

Issued at 8:39pm 12/04/2026

Valid from Midnight 12/04/2026 to Midday 13/04/2026

Chart reviewed at 8:35pm Sunday and moderate risk areas extended slightly further east in the North Island and slightly further north in the South Island. A front moves onto western parts of the North Island late Monday morning, and there is a low risk of thunderstorms for much of the west of the North Island from Northland to Kapiti as indicated on the chart. However, for Waitomo, south Waikato, Taranaki, Taumarunui and inland Whanganui the risk is considered moderate and any thunderstorms that occur will be accompanied by heavy rain 10 to 25 mm/h. Over the South Island, a front moves onto Fiordland late Monday morning. There is a moderate risk of thunderstorms with heavy rain 10 to 25 mm/h for Fiordland and southern Westland ahead of and with the front from dawn onwards. There is a low risk of thunderstorms for the rest of Westland and Grey as indicated on the chart. There is minimal risk of thunderstorms or significant convection elsewhere during this period.

Issued at 10:54am 12/04/2026

Valid from Midday 13/04/2026 to Midnight 13/04/2026

A series of fronts move onto and over New Zealand during the second half of Monday, with temperatures cooling loft over the South Island. For the North Island, there is a moderate risk of thunderstorms for much of the North Island as indicated of the chart with heavy rain 10 to 25 mm/h, along with a low risk of downpours boosting localised rainfall rates to 25 to 40 mm/h. The moderate risk of thunderstorms eases in western parts during the afternoon and evening, but a low risk remains. A low risk of thunderstorms covers remaining areas as indicated on the chart. Over the South Island, a series of fronts move northwards with the air aloft getting gradually colder. A moderate risk of thunderstorms extends through Westland, Grey and into the far south of Buller at night, while Fiordland is covered by a moderate risk of thunderstorms for the whole period. These thunderstorms will be accompanied by heavy rain 10 to 25 mm/h, but as things get colder over Fiordland and southern/central Westland, expect rainfall rates of 5 to 15 mm/h and hail of 5 to 15mm in diameter. A low risk of thunderstorms extends further north through Buller, Nelson Lakes and the far northwest of Tasman. In the southeast of the South Island, as temperatures cool aloft, a front crosses the area and convergences set up in the east, there is a low risk of thunderstorms for South Canterbury, Otago and Southland in the afternoon and evening. However, for the far south of the Canterbury Plains, North Otago, Dunedin and eastern Clutha, the risk is considered moderate for a time during the afternoon and evening. These thunderstorms may be accompanied by heavy rain 10 to 20 mm/h and small hail. There is minimal risk of thunderstorms or significant convection elsewhere during this period.