Issued at 8:36am 22/01/2026

Valid from 8:36am 22/01/2026 to 1:00am 23/01/2026

There is mostly a low risk of isolated thunderstorms this afternoon about the central North Island, but for areas of Hawke's Bay and the Tararua District the risk extends into the evening, and there is a moderate risk of isolated thunderstorms for areas of Hawke's Bay near the coast this afternoon and evening. These thunderstorms could bring localised heavy rain of 10 to 25 mm/h. For the South Island, there is mostly a low risk of isolated thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening about the ranges of Marlborough, the Tasman District and along the Main Divide to Fiordland, Southland and Otago. However, about inland Southland, inland Fiordland, the Southern Lakes, and the ranges of southern Westland, the risk of thunderstorms increases to moderate. These thunderstorms if they could occur could bring localised heavy rain with intensities of 10 to 25 mm/h. For the Chatham Islands, there is a moderate risk of thunderstorms from this evening bringing heavy rain of 15 to 25 mm/h, and also a risk of downpours of 24 to 40 mm/h. No thunderstorms or significant convection expected elsewhere during this period.

Issued at 10:32am 22/01/2026

Valid from 1:00am 23/01/2026 to 1:00pm 23/01/2026

Instability increases over the country Friday morning. There is a moderate risk of thunderstorms developing about inland areas of south and mid Canterbury during the morning, bringing localised heavy with rates of 10 to 25 mm/h. A lower risk of thunderstorms covers the remainder of Canterbury and northern parts of Otago. There is also a low risk of thunderstorms developing about northern Westland, Buller and the west of the Tasman District in the morning. For the Chatham Islands, there is a moderate risk of thunderstorms before dawn, bringing heavy rain of 15 to 25 mm/h, and also a risk of downpours of 24 to 40 mm/h. No thunderstorms or significant convection expected in other areas of New Zealand during this period.