📸 Thank you to Vicky Stephenson for capturing these Kelvin-Helmholtz clouds off the Ruahine ranges a couple of weeks ago. ℹ️ Kelvin Helmholtz clouds form when faster-moving air "scoops" at the surface of cloud in a slower-moving air layer, creating waves 🌊

🟡🌧️ Heavy Rain Watches issued for Tasman and Marlborough ☔ A low-pressure system moves in late tomorrow night into Thursday, bringing heavy rain to the upper South Island ⛈️ Widespread rain is expected on Thursday, with a risk of thunderstorms for the North Island especially

🌡️ Max temperatures today are a closer to average January temperatures than those seen over the weekend. ☀️ Hawke's Bay is still looking toasty; Wairoa has a forecast high of 29°C ⛅ Down south, temperatures a notch below their January averages 🔗 bit.ly/metservicenz

A southwesterly change brings cloud and a few showers to the North Island, as well as a shift to cooler temperatures 🌡️📉🌦️ Showers brush the edges of the South Island, otherwise skies clearing 🌦️🌤️

Temperatures are still on their way up, but here's a selection of some of the highest temperatures and strongest wind gusts we've seen today so far ♨️💨

Hottest midday temperatures 📈🌡️ Drink plenty of water, stick to the shade if you can, and avoid any activities that might create sparks. ♨️ More advice here: about.metservice.com/heat-alerts

⚠️ The Severe Weather Warnings have been updated. Key differences from yesterday's issue: 🌧️🟠 The Heavy Rain Watch for Buller has been upgraded to an orange Heavy Rain Warning 💨🟡 A Strong Wind Watch has been added for Hawke's Bay 🔗 For details, visit: bit.ly/AllWarnings

⛈️ Rain and severe gale northwesterlies move northwards over the South Island today ⚠️ Heavy Rain and Strong Wind Warnings are in force bit.ly/AllWarnings 🌡️ We're expecting hot conditions for eastern areas today. Kaikōura is already at 29.4°C as of 8:30am

🟠💨Orange Strong Wind Warning issued for Marlborough, The Tararua District, Wairarapa and Wellington. 🟠🌧Orange Heavy Rain Warning issued for Headwaters of the Canterbury lakes and rivers about and south of Arthur's Pass.

Eagle eyed radar watchers might have spotted something wrong in the radar over Auckland this morning. 🦅 The radar is a very useful tool, but data is often noisy.

Records could roll this weekend in some places! Here are a few forecast maximum temperatures as of this morning (Friday)🌡 Heat alerts are in place for: Paihia and Russel, Whangārei, Whitianga, Tauranga, Whakatāne, Gisborne, Napier, Hastings, Masterton, Motueka, Blenheim, Kaikōura and Christchurch.

Warnings & Watches have been issued for this weekend 🟠🟡 Heavy rain and strong winds are expected for parts of the South Island and Central New Zealand as a front, preceded by a strong, moist northwesterly flow moves up. For more information: bit.ly/AllWarnings

It’s going to be a hot weekend with muggy nights 🥵 Babies and infants, older people, and those with medical conditions are particularly vulnerable, so check in on each other. Even if you’re somewhere without heat alerts, here are good tips for managing summer heat: about.metservice.com/heat-alerts

Temperatures are set to soar this weekend - check out the latest here: youtu.be/wmqRd2rTA9k

🟧 ⛈️A Severe thunderstorm Warning has been issued for ASHLEY FOREST and LEES VALLEY. These thunderstorms are expected to be accompanied by large hail and frequent lightning. Details here www.metservice.com/warnings/hom...

🟧 ⛈️Severe thunderstorm Warning is out for LAKE WAIKAREMOANA. These thunderstorms are expected to be accompanied by torrential rain, large hail and frequent lightning. Details here www.metservice.com/warnings/hom...

🟧 ⛈️Severe thunderstorm Warnings are out for MATAWAI, RERE, WHAREKOPAE, KORANGA and RUAKITURI. These thunderstorms are expected to be accompanied by torrential rain, large hail and frequent lightning. Details here www.metservice.com/warnings/hom...

🟧 ⛈️Severe thunderstorm Warnings are out for MATAWAI, OTOKO, TINIROTO, TE REINGA, RUAKITURI and TUKEMOKIH. These thunderstorms are expected to be accompanied by torrential rain, large hail and frequent lightning. Details here www.metservice.com/warnings/hom...

🟧 ⛈️A Severe thunderstorm Warning is out for TE KARAKA, MATAWAI and OTOKO. These thunderstorms are expected to be accompanied by torrential rain, large hail and frequent lightning. Details here www.metservice.com/warnings/hom...

Cumulonimbus clouds are bubbling up in the Severe Thunderstorm Watch area - with more to come 🟡⛈ Watch - conditions look right for intense thunderstorms. Most places in the area won't even get rained on, but stay alert! 🛑⛈ Warning - we see a severe thunderstorm on the radar bit.ly/STSWatch

⛈️ Thunderstorms are bubbling up over the eastern North Island this afternoon, clearing in the evening 🌧️ A westerly flow directs rain towards the South Island, and draws hot air from Australia 🌡️📈 Temperatures begin to hike up, especially in eastern areas 🔗 bit.ly/metservicenz

⚡⚠️ Severe Thunderstorm Watch Reminder: A Severe Thunderstorm WATCH 🟡 shows where severe thunderstorms COULD form, a Severe Thunderstorm WARNING 🛑is when one has formed. Keep an eye out for updates this afternoon here: bit.ly/STWarning 👀

We can see a halo, halo, halo 😇🎶☀️ A thin veil of high cloud covers the upper North Island today, which means the sun gets a 22° halo! Thank you very much to Heather for the photo 📸 You can read more about atmospheric optical phenomena on our blog: blog.metservice.com/atmospheric-... 🌈

Ata mārie, good morning! 🌄 Another clear, calm day is in store for most of Aotearoa New Zealand; though a few showers will crop up over the upper North Island as the day heats up, you'd be unlucky to encounter one 🌤️ 📸 Stunning Angelus Hut webcam courtesy of the New Zealand Mountain Safety Council 🤩

As of 2pm, observed temperatures were close to or above 20°C everywhere! 🔆 After an unsettled period, it feels like summer is back! Does anyone else feel like that? 🏝️⛱️🌞 🌊 Latest forecasts: metservice.com

This satellite image was captured at 11:30 am and shows lots of clear skies around the country 🛰️ However, there is a bit of cloud around for areas like Christchurch, Canterbury and Westland. 🔎 View satellite imagery here: metservice.com/maps-radar/satellite/new-zealand-visible

Rise and shine! Here is a sunrise photo from Wellington this morning 🌅 ⤵︎ Plenty of fine spells around the country today with the odd shower here and there. 🌤️ What's causing this? A ridge of high pressure is parked over the country bringing settled conditions. More information: metservice.com

🟧 ⛈️A Severe thunderstorm Warning is out for CLARKS BEACH, PUKEKOHE, PATUMAHOE, GLENBROOK, KINGSEAT, DRURY and ARARIMU. ‼️Impacts: flash flooding about streams, gullies and urban areas, and make driving conditions extremely hazardous. Details here bit.ly/STWarning

🟧⛈️A Severe Thunderstorm Warning is out for NGATAPA to MURIWAI to NUHAKA. ‼️Impacts: flash flooding about streams, gullies and urban areas, and driving conditions extremely hazardous. Details here bit.ly/STWarning

A Severe Thunderstorm Warning out for BRYNDERWYN to TAUHOA to HELENSVILLE. ‼️Impacts: flash flooding about streams, gullies and urban areas, and driving conditions extremely hazardous. Details here bit.ly/STWarning

🟧 ⛈️Severe thunderstorm Warnings are our for BREAM HEAD, PATAUA and TAIHARURU, OPAHI Northland. ‼️Impacts: flash flooding about streams, gullies and urban areas, and make driving conditions extremely hazardous. Details here bit.ly/STWarning

🟧 ⛈️A Severe thunderstorm Warning is out for TE AROHA, KATIKATI, THE KAIMAI RANGES and SHAFTESBURY. ‼️Impacts: flash flooding about streams, gullies and urban areas, and make driving conditions extremely hazardous. Details here bit.ly/STWarning

🟧⛈️A Severe thunderstorm Warning is out for Wairoa and Frasertown, northern Hawkes's Bay. ‼️Impacts: flash flooding about streams, gullies and urban areas, and make driving conditions extremely hazardous. Details here bit.ly/STWarning

🟨 ⛈️Severe thunderstorm Watches are in force for Northland, Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, Waikato, Waitomo, Taupo, and Hawkes Bay. Bringing downpours of 25-40mm ‼️Impacts: surface and/or flash flooding, slips, hazardous driving conditions. Details here bit.ly/STSWatch

🟧Heavy Rain Warnings have been updated for Tairawhiti/Gisborne, and Hawke's Bay north of Napier. ⛈️Thunderstorms may bring downpours of 25-40mm/h. ‼️Surface flooding, slips and difficult driving conditions arepossible. Details here bit.ly/AllWarnings

Here are your temperatures at 7am, ranging from 9 °C in Invercargill to 18 °C up in Gisborne. Weather theme today: ⛈️North Island: Thunderstorms north of Palmy. 🌦️South Island: A clearing trend. All the details here bit.ly/metservicenz Thunderstorm risk chart bit.ly/TSOutlook

Update: The Severe Thunderstorm Warning over Auckland has been lifted ⛈️However, thunder, lightning, and heavy rain are still possible this evening and further Warnings may be issued 🟡The Severe Thunderstorm Watch goes until 9pm this evening

⚠️The Severe Thunderstorm Warning over Auckland has been updated where torrential rain can be expected The warning for Northland has been lifted The Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in place until 9pm this evening🟡

⚠️🔴Severe Thunderstorm Warnings for intense rain are in place for thunderstorm cells moving over Northland and Auckland Very heavy rain can cause: 🌊surface and/or flash flooding 🚧hazardous driving conditions Full details are available at www.metservice.com/warnings/home

A band of moisture laden cloud is approaching the north of the North Island 🌧️☁️. Rain is expected to develop and spread east from about 3pm this afternoon, affecting Northland and Auckland 🌦️. There is a Thunderstorm Watch in place for the affected areas ⚠️Keep up to date at bit.ly/AllWarnings

Happy New Year from MetService in Wellington! 🎉🌦️ New year, new weather! 🌤️ It was a turbulent end to 2025 with wild weather for many, but looking ahead to 2026 it appears we’re moving into a more settled pattern across the country as a ridge of high pressure builds over us this weekend 🌈☀️

🟡Severe Thunderstorm Watch over the western North Island until 10 pm, 31 Dec 🔴 Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Auckland City, Waitakere, Rodney, Albany until 06:52 pm, 31 Dec Severe Thunderstorm Warnings may be issued throughout the period. Find the latest warnings here: metservice.com/warnings

The Severe Thunderstorm Warnings have now been lifted But thunderstorms are still affecting the North Island with pockets of intense rain Further Severe Thunderstorms are possible this evening. Keep an eye for updates at www.metservice.com/warnings/home

⚠️Warnings Update ⛈️ Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Auckland City, Rodney, Gulf and Albany - Validity: 4:00 - 5:00 pm, 31 Dec ⛈️ Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Ruapehu, Wanganui - Validity: 4:22 - 5:22 pm, 31 Dec More information and updates: metservice.com/warnings

🟡⛈️Severe Thunderstorms are forecast for the North Island including Auckland this afternoon and evening. ⁉️Impacts: Intense downpours, flash flooding, slips, hazardous driving conditions, and travel disruptions. Details here bit.ly/STSWatch

🟡🟠Heavy Rain Warning and Watches are out for the north of the South Island today and during the morning on New Year's Day. As an active low pressure system drifts across Aotearoa New Zealand. All the details here bit.ly/AllWarnings

🟡⛈️A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in force a number of regions of the North Island. ⁉️Some thunderstorms may be severe, with downpours of 25 to 40 mm/h, flash flooding, and hazardous driving conditions. Details here bit.ly/STSWatch Weather radar link bit.ly/NZRainRadar

Ata mārie, good morning Aotearoa New Zealand. 🌄Milford Sound is the place to be on the last morning of 2025! 🌧️⛈️Showers are the main theme today, with thunderstorms possible over central and northern parts. Check the details here bit.ly/metservicenz Thunderstorms? Where? bit.ly/TSOutlook

The low that won't go ☔ The low pressure system which has been helping drive the current severe weather wants to hang around & see in the New Year with us. While the risk of widespread severe weather lessens from this evening there will still be some weather to contend with!

⚠️Warnings Update 🟠 🟡Here are our latest Heavy Rain and Strong Winds Warning and Watches through until the Jan 01, 2026! More information: metservice.com/warnings