Tropical storm-hit regions to face strong winds and thunderstorms this weekend

Days after a tropical storm ravaged parts of the North Island, causing devastating slips and flooding, thunderstorms and strong winds are forecast to hit some of the worst-affected regions.

Auckland Anniversary Weekend is set to be disrupted by heavy gusts as a strong wind watch will come into effect from noon tomorrow for Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula, Waikato north of Hamilton and Bay of Plenty north of Tauranga.

A strong wind watch is also in place for Gisborne north of Tolaga Bay from noon to 6pm tomorrow.

Meanwhile, a severe thunderstorm watch is in place for large parts of Canterbury from today.

Gusts of up to 100km/h are expected for the areas under the wind watches tomorrow afternoon, MetService meteorologist Devlin Lynden told the Herald.

The strong winds bring an “elevated risk” of further damage to areas which have elevated and wet soil because of the heavy rain they have received, Lynden said.

The system causing the strong winds is also expected to bring a moderate risk of thunderstorms for western areas of the North Island tomorrow.

“Between say Hamilton down to Levin or Paraparaumu, we’re expecting the risk of thunderstorms for those areas”, said Lynden. Later in the afternoon, thunderstorms are expected for a “broad area” of central New Zealand north of about Whanganui, up to just south of Dargaville, he said.

MetService said there was a 30-60% chance the wind watches would be upgraded to warnings.

Auckland Emergency Management advised people to tie down anything that can be broken or picked up by strong winds, such as outdoor furniture and to remove any debris or loose items from around their property.

The bad weather will not be welcome news to regions such as Tairāwhiti, Bay of Plenty and the Coromandel, where heavy rain wreaked havoc.

Damage in Te Araroa after severe weather hit the North Island on Wednesday. Photo / Maree Brownlie

Towns were cut off, roads were blocked, rivers were burst, people were evacuated, and devastating flooding and landslips were seen as a tropical storm battered the North Island this week.

Weather watch across the country

The next few days will remain unsettled as a broad area of low pressure (🔵) sits east of NZ. This will mean:

🍃 Gusty southwest winds

🥶 Chilly temperatures

⛈️ Locally heavy showers and thunderstorms

However, next week we'll see some improvement as high pressure moves in. pic.twitter.com/iD6KxGsX6c

— NIWA Weather (@NiwaWeather) January 22, 2026

A severe thunderstorm watch lasting from 1.30-9pm today is in place for Christchurch, the Canterbury Plains and the Canterbury High Country.

MetService said there was a 30-60% risk of a few thunderstorms becoming severe, producing localised downpours of 25-40mm/h or large hail in excess of 2cm in diameter.

The rainfall has the potential to cause surface and flash flooding, especially in low-lying areas, MetService said.

Weather watches across the country. Photo / MetService

A heavy rain watch has been issued for Wellington and Wairarapa south of Masterton from 3-10am tomorrow, as well as the Kaikōura Coast from 11pm tonight until 9am tomorrow.

Dunedin, Clutha and parts of Central Otago will be under a heavy rain watch from 9am tomorrow until 3pm on Sunday.

A strong wind watch is in place for Coastal Otago, Southland from Waikouati to Bluff, and Stewart Island from 9pm tomorrow until 6am on Sunday.