Weather: Strong winds lash NZ, potential thunderstorms on the way
Weather alerts across the North Island on 18 May, 2025.
Photo:
MetService
Heavy wind and rain have been lashing areas of both the North and South Island overnight and on Sunday morning, with the potential of thunderstorms on the way for the north.
In the South Island, all weather alerts issued by MetService have ended - besides a heavy rain watch east of Nelson.
In the lower North Island, a heavy wind warning was in place in Wellington until 1pm and a wind watch will stay in force till 3pm.
There was also a heavy rain warning till 4pm in Tararua Ranges and a watch until 3pm in Wellington, Horowhenua and Kāpiti Coast.
MetService meteorologist Kgolofelo Dube told RNZ the fastest wind gusts recorded in the past 12 hours were on Mount Hutt at 174km/h and Wellington's Mount Kaukau at 164km/h.
Dube said the South Island's weather had been driven by two cold fronts, while in the North Island a low pressure system had caused the windy, rainy conditions.
She said Mt Taranaki and parts of Tasman had seen the largest downpours.
On Mt Taranaki, 140mm of rain had fallen from 5pm Saturday to 8.30am Sunday, while 117mm fell over an 11-hour period from 9pm Saturday in Tasman's Collingwood.
In the central North Island, South Taranaki, Whanganui and Manawatū will be under a wind watch till 3pm.
Much of the Waikato was under a rain watch, and a heavy rain warning was in play till 5pm on Mount Taranaki.
Bay of Plenty east of Ōpōtiki will be under a rain warning from 7pm tonight till 6am Monday, and in Auckland and Northland, rain and thunderstorm watches will be enforced from 7pm till 5am Monday.
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