New Zealand is in for “a bit of everything” on the last day of winter tomorrow with a mix of strong winds, showers, snow and cooler temperatures.
Auckland Harbour Bridge is also likely to close for brief periods tomorrow during strong wind gusts, NZTA says.
MetService meteorologist Oscar Shiviti said there are wind watches and warnings in place for the upper half of the North Island.
“It is also at risk for thunderstorms,” with those conditions mainly affecting Northland, Coromandel, Auckland and the northern half of Waikato, Shiviti said.
A fresh front moving up the South Island will bring snow warnings on the roads.
“From 10am to midnight, and then from 6pm tonight all the way to 5am tomorrow.”
A strong southwesterly is expected across the lower South Island, including Gore, Clutha and Dunedin, from 10am to 6pm.
In Auckland, grey clouds will dominate, with occasional heavy showers, 90km/h winds and hail.
Severe gales are expected in the afternoon, with gusts of up to 120km/h in exposed areas.
Thunderstorms will bring localised heavy rain of 10-20mm per hour.
NZTA says speed limits are expected to be in place on Auckland Harbour Bridge, with reduced lanes and occasional full closures required at times.
“Motorists are advised to drive to the conditions and pay attention to electronic message boards on the motorway.”
Due to forecasted strong winds, drivers of high-sided vehicles and motorcyclists should avoid the Auckland Harbour Bridge and instead use the western ring route along State Highways 16 and 18.
Cornwall Park will be closed from 1pm Sunday until further notice, according to a Facebook post.
People have been asked to not enter the park until further notice, with the safety of staff and the public being the park’s “highest priority”.
All facilities within the park are closed including, “toilets, Huia Lodge Discovery Hub, Acacia Cottage, the Bistro, Cafe, and Creamery.”
Due to the orange weather warning issued by Metservice today, predicting severe southwesterly winds for 9 hours from 3...
Posted by Cornwall Park on Friday 29 August 2025
In 2016, a tree that fell in Cornwall Park injured two people and fell on four cars.
At the time, a witness described the 30m cottonwood tree falling as “like a mini earthquake”.
MetService advises that northwesterly winds are likely to hit amber thresholds early Sunday morning and strengthen to red by late morning.
There will not be much warm weather across the country, with many areas only expected to reach a high of 16C and Canterbury is not expected to top 8C.
“It is going to be cold,” Shiviti said.
Wellington won’t escape the wet either as the capital faces a damp day with isolated showers becoming frequent in the afternoon and evening.
In the Bay of Plenty, the sun may peek through the clouds but squally thunderstorms will keep beachgoers away with northwesterlies rising to strong westerlies in the evening.
Fiordland is set for the harshest conditions, with heavy rain and strong winds battering the area, and snow falling as low as 500m.
Queenstown will experience a mix of sun and cloud, although showers are expected to develop during the evening.
A stubborn low-pressure system is behind the nationwide unsettled weather, keeping temperatures cooler than usual for this time of year, Shiviti said.
“Prepare your property for high winds. Strong winds can lift large, heavy objects and send them crashing into homes. Anything not secured may become a projectile.”