Thunderstorm Outlook
Issued at 7:14am 14/06/2026
Valid from 7:14am 14/06/2026 to Midnight 14/06/2026
A front moves northwards over the west of the lower South Island during the second half of Sunday. There is an associated low risk of embedded thunderstorms for Fiordland during the afternoon and evening, and for southern and central parts of Westland during the evening and at night. There is minimal risk of thunderstorms or significant convection elsewhere during Sunday.
Issued at 7:24pm 14/06/2026
Valid from Midnight 14/06/2026 to Midday 15/06/2026
Reviewed at 7:20pm Sunday - Low risk removed from Horowhenua and Kapiti. A front moves northwards over southern and central New Zealand during the first half of Monday. There is a low risk of a few embedded thunderstorms for Westland, Grey, Buller and the far west of the Tasman district as indicated on the chart. There is minimal risk of thunderstorms or significant convection elsewhere during this time.
Issued at 10:50am 14/06/2026
Valid from Midday 15/06/2026 to Midnight 15/06/2026
A front moves northwards through central New Zealand during the second half of Monday. There is a low risk of embedded thunderstorms for Buller, western Nelson, Kapiti Coast, Horowhenua, Taranaki and Waitomo, as indicated on the chart. There is minimal risk of thunderstorms or significant convection elsewhere during this time.
Severe Thunderstorm Criteria
In New Zealand, MetService classifies a thunderstorm as severe if one or more of the following criteria are met:
Heavy rain (from thunderstorms):
Rainfall of 25mm/h, or more.
Large hail:
Hailstones 20mm in diameter, or larger.
Strong wind gusts (from thunderstorms):
Gusts of 110km/h (60 knots) or stronger.
Damaging tornadoes:
Fujita F1 - i.e. wind speeds greater than 116km/h (63 knots) 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.
