Parts of the South Island can expect a battering from heavy rain today as a two-day wet spell begins.
Thunderstorms, hail, gales and even tornadoes and snow are possible in some regions.
MetService overnight upgraded to an orange heavy rain warning for part of the Tasman District, with slips, rising rivers and flooding on the cards.
The warning covers the area northwest of Motueka from 4am to 7pm, with up to 110mm of rain and including localised downpours with peak rainfall rates of 25-40mm/h this morning.
Thunderstorms were also possible under the heavy rain warning, which has subsequently been extended to 8pm.
“Expect 65 to 90mm of rain on top of what has already accumulated, especially about the ranges. Peak rates of 15 to 25 mm/h with thunderstorms possible”, MetService wrote at 9.30am.
That amount of rain means “streams and rivers may rise rapidly”.
“Surface flooding, slips, and difficult driving conditions [are also] possible,” the forecaster said.
“Clear your drains and gutters to prepare for heavy rain. Avoid low-lying areas and drive cautiously.”
Severe Weather Update
— MetService NZ (@MetService) February 2, 2026
With low pressure rolling across the country there's a few areas forecast to see heavy rain and strong winds.
Wednesday sees the severe weather exit to the east and high pressure move in from the west - signalling a stretch of settled weather. pic.twitter.com/MOsS5EwrqI
Thunderstorms and even “one or two localised tornadoes” could also hit Buller and west of Nelson this morning, the forecaster says.
Those areas have a “moderate risk” of thunderstorms, while there is a low risk for the rest of Nelson, Grey, northern and central Westland and much of Marlborough.
Tuesday's emojicast:
— NIWA Weather (@NiwaWeather) February 2, 2026
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This afternoon, northwest Nelson to the Marlborough Sounds has a “moderate risk” of thunderstorms, with heavy rain and possibly hail and “small localised tornadoes”.
The spell of wet weather is forecast to soak New Zealand during the next two days; however, it will clear off in time for Laneway music festivalgoers in Auckland, where residents sweated through a warm, muggy night.
They weren’t alone.
At 6am it was 21C in Auckland, 22C in Whangārei, Tauranga and Napier and 24C in Gisborne, in contrast to some South Island centres, where temperatures barely reached double digits.
Hot and humid in the North but a different story for the South Island.
— MetService NZ (@MetService) February 2, 2026
Check out the spread of temperatures at 6am this morning. pic.twitter.com/kj1EswzrAN
MetService forecaster Mmathapelo Makgabutlane told the Herald the country would get most of the wet weather today.
“We are expecting some rain for both islands, as well as some strong winds in some places.”
She said fronts extending from a low-pressure system were the cause of the wet weather.
Meanwhile, heavy rain watches are in place for Marlborough, south of Seddon, and Canterbury, north of the Rangitata River, until 10pm.
“Amounts may approach warning criteria or possibly exceed them, especially in North Canterbury and the Kaikōura District,” MetService said.
There is a high chance this watch will be upgraded to a warning.
Makgabutlane said some of the rain was forecast to fall as snow in the elevated parts of the affected areas – “above about 1200m”.
A heavy rain watch has also been issued for Wairarapa, south of Masterton, from 7pm tonight till 3am tomorrow.
A strong wind watch is in place for the Westland and Grey Districts until 7pm today, and in the Marlborough Sounds from 7pm to 1am.
Meanwhile, temperatures are also forecast to reach only the low to mid-teens in Wellington and the top of the South Island, and even chillier further south.
Christchurch is headed for 12C, Dunedin and Invercargill 13C and Timaru a frigid 10C.
“A cold day expected, with the rain and the wind, it’s not going to feel like a summer’s day.”
Makgabutlane said “waves of rain” were expected to hit the North Island throughout today.
“It doesn’t look like enough to warrant a warning, but it does look like a wet day.
“We also have some strong winds expected by the end of the day, especially in the lower half of the North Island.”
The weather is forecast to improve for Aucklanders on Thursday, just in time for Laneway Festival at Western Springs.
The temperature would reach a maximum of 25C with very little wind, Makgabutlane said.
“It looks like quite a nice day.”
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