Wellington, January 4, 2025 – Severe weather conditions are set to grip parts of New Zealand today, with thunderstorms, hail, and heavy rain forecast across multiple regions. MetService, the country’s national weather authority, attributes this unsettled weather to a cooling upper atmosphere and an active low-pressure system.
The central parts of the country, particularly Marlborough and Wellington, are under a severe thunderstorm warning. MetService cautions that the storms could bring torrential rain, raising the risk of flash flooding. As of 2:55 p.m., warnings have been issued for Marlborough’s Richmond Range, Okaramio, and Waihopai areas.
Earlier, the national forecaster detected thunderstorms approaching Greymouth, Stillwater, Dobson, and Runanga on the West Coast using radar technology. These storms are tracking northward, and MetService has extended its warnings to include Nelson and the Canterbury high country, where a severe thunderstorm watch is in place until 9 p.m.
The weather disruptions are widespread. Lightning and localized downpours are expected in Auckland, Northland, western Waikato, Taranaki, Wellington, Hawke’s Bay, Nelson, Tasman, the West Coast, and North Canterbury. Auckland may experience heavy showers in the morning and again at night, with temperatures peaking at 23°C.
Adding to the instability, another low-pressure system is forecast to move across the country on Friday, bringing additional rain and thunderstorms to northern and central areas. Showers are predicted to clear in Auckland tomorrow morning, paving the way for fine conditions with a high of 22°C. The first fully dry day for the region is expected to be Monday.
The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) has also issued a long-range forecast, noting a “decidedly cool lean” for the first half of January. This contrasts sharply with December, which saw record-breaking warmth in many areas. Niwa anticipates more unusually cool days than warm ones through mid-month, followed by a gradual warm-up in the latter half of January.
Rainfall projections suggest varying conditions across the country. While Southland, Otago, and the West Coast are expected to receive less rain than usual, Canterbury, eastern Wellington, and Hawke’s Bay could experience above-average rainfall in the first two weeks. Later in January, regions such as Auckland, Northland, and Coromandel are predicted to see more rainfall than typical.
Despite the turbulent weather, Tolaga Bay in Tairāwhiti Gisborne offers a respite, with sunshine, light northwest breezes, and a high of 26°C. Holidaymakers are advised to monitor weather updates closely and take precautions against the severe conditions in affected areas.