Issued at 8:04am 21/01/2026

Valid from 8:04am 21/01/2026 to 1:00am 22/01/2026

A very humid air mass affects the north of the North Island today, accompanied by heavy rain. Severe Weather Warnings and Watches are in force. There is a low risk of thunderstorms from this afternoon in Northland, and from evening for Auckland and the Coromandel Peninsula. Note, most areas from Northland to Bay of Plenty and northern Gisborne are at risk of being affected by downpours of 25 to 40 mm/h associated with broader areas of rain, as detailed in the Severe Weather Warnings and Watches. No thunderstorms or significant convection expected in other areas of New Zealand during this period.

Issued at 10:16am 21/01/2026

Valid from 1:00am 22/01/2026 to 1:00pm 22/01/2026

A significant rain band moves southeastwards across the county during Thursday. Severe Weather Warnings and Watches are in place. There is a low risk of thunderstorms in Auckland and Coromandel Peninsula before dawn, and for Bay of Plenty and northern Gisborne for most of the period. Note, most areas covered by the low risk of thunderstorms from Auckland to Bay of Plenty and northern Gisborne are at a moderate risk of being affected by downpours of 25 to 40 mm/h associated with broader areas of rain, as detailed in the Severe Weather Warnings and Watches. No thunderstorms or significant convection expected in other areas of New Zealand during this period.

Issued at 10:39am 21/01/2026

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

The significant rain band make its way eastwards across the country during the second half of Thursday, and instability increases in the afternoon in parts of both islands. There is mostly a low risk of isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon across the central North Island, but for Hawke's Bay and the Tararua District the risk extends into the evening, and there is a moderate risk of isolated thunderstorms for Hawke's Bay in the 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 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. No thunderstorms or significant convection expected in other areas of New Zealand.