Auckland and other parts of northern New Zealand are bracing for potentially damaging winds this weekend, as the region continues to recover from recent flooding.
Severe Weather Returns to New Zealand This Weekend
Strong winds and heavy rain are forecast to impact several regions, raising concerns for areas already saturated from earlier storms.
- Strong wind watches are in effect for Auckland, Coromandel, Waikato, Gisborne, and Bay of Plenty starting midday Saturday.
- Southwest winds may reach severe gale force in Coastal Otago, Southland, and Stewart Island from Saturday night.
- A yellow heavy rain watch has been issued for parts of Otago and Southland for 30 hours beginning Saturday at 9 a.m.
- Climate change is likely contributing to more intense summer rainfall events, according to scientists.
MetService has issued strong wind watches for several North Island regions, beginning at midday Saturday. These include Auckland, the Coromandel Peninsula, parts of Waikato, Gisborne, and the Bay of Plenty. The potential for trees to topple due to sodden ground is a significant concern, according to meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane, who spoke on Summer Report.
Further south, Coastal Otago, Southland, and Stewart Island could experience severe gale-force southwest winds starting Saturday night. A yellow heavy rain watch is also in place for Dunedin, Clutha, Central Otago south of Alexandra, and mainland Southland, lasting for 30 hours from 9 a.m. Saturday.
What is the current weather situation in New Zealand? New Zealand is facing a renewed threat of severe weather, with strong winds and heavy rain predicted for several regions this weekend, following recent flooding events.
MetService indicated a moderate chance the wind watch could be upgraded to a warning. A tropical low had moved clear of the Chatham Islands by Friday morning, and the heavy rain watch for that area had been lifted.
Flooding in Ōakura.
Civil Defence in Gisborne is warning residents that even with improving weather, the risk of landslides remains high. “One of the biggest dangers are landslides. They can happen without warning,” the organization posted online. “We have reports of people walking over landslides to collect water and food from welfare hubs. Please don’t.”
Scientists are also pointing to the role of climate change in increasing the intensity of rainfall events. Chris Brandolino, principal scientist at Earth Sciences New Zealand, formerly NIWA, explained on Summer Report that warmer seas contribute to more water vapor in the atmosphere, fueling heavier rainfall. “Put simply, there is more water vapour in the air that is the fuel for heavy rain,” he said. He added that the intensity of these events is “growing.”
Whitianga Campground was flooded.
La Niña, the current climate pattern, already increases rainfall in the north and east of the North Island. Brandolino also suggested that a warming Tasman Sea could further exacerbate these effects, leading to wetter summers. A severe thunderstorm watch was in place Friday morning for Christchurch and the Canterbury plains and high country, forecasting localized heavy rain and large hail from 1:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Countless slips on the Russell-Whakapara Road near Ōakura are being cleaned up by contractors.
