Severe weather warnings as heavy rain and gales loom for North and South islands

Damage to trees, powerlines, and unsecured structures was possible, MetService wrote in its strong wind warning for those in Canterbury’s high country.

“Driving may [also] be difficult, especially for high-sided vehicles and motorcycles.”

Heavy rain and strong wind warnings have been issued for parts of the North and South islands this weekend. Image / MetService

Heavy rain warnings have been issued across the western and lower South Island, with the Westland ranges’ 24-hour event expected to bring up to 350mm of rain.

Grey and Buller districts’ ranges are likewise in for a wet weekend, with up to 130mm of rain forecast from late tomorrow morning to early on Sunday.

The headwaters of lakes and rivers in both Canterbury (south of the Hurunui River) and Otago are also under a heavy rain warning from late tonight until early afternoon (Otago) and early evening (Canterbury) on Sunday.

Heavy rain is forecast for parts of the South Island this weekend. Pictured is the rain forecast across the South Island for 3pm tomorrow. Image / MetService

Up to 300mm of rain is expected in the main divide area of Canterbury, with lesser falls further east and in the Otago lakes’ and rivers’ headwaters.

In Fiordland, up to 150mm of rain is expected to fall tonight and tomorrow morning.

Heavy rain could lead to streams and rivers rising rapidly, with “surface flooding, slips, and difficult driving conditions possible”, MetService said.

Heavy rain watches are also in place for the Tararua Range and the inland ranges of Buller District and Nelson Lakes from late tonight until early Sunday, with a moderate chance of upgrading to a warning.

Wellington, Wairarapa (south of Carterton), Southland, inland Otago, western Clutha, Marlborough Sounds and the inland ranges of Marlborough are under strong wind watches this weekend.

Active weather is headed for the South Island on Friday and Saturday. This will include:

🌧️ Heavy rain for parts of the West Coast

🍃 Strong westerly winds that may approach or even exceed 100 km/h in interior areas

🌡️ Unseasonably warm temperatures pic.twitter.com/6FUHnzJFXm

— NIWA Weather (@NiwaWeather) June 18, 2026

While showers were expected to develop in the west of the North Island, it was forecast to be mainly fine across the rest of the island, while South Islanders in areas outside the heavy rain-hit west and south could expect scattered falls, MetService said.

On Sunday, rain would spread north in the North Island before easing, they said.

In the South Island, heavy rain in the north would ease in the morning, with a few showers elsewhere.

What weather is in store for your weekend?

Whangārei: Fine, with cloud developing tomorrow afternoon. Partly cloudy with evening showers on Sunday.Auckland: Mainly fine, with a few areas of morning fog tomorrow. A few showers, clearing in the evening on Sunday.Hamilton: Morning fog, then fine tomorrow. Showers turning to rain on Sunday.Tauranga: Mainly fine tomorrow. A few showers, clearing in the evening on Sunday.Rotorua: Mainly fine with possible morning fog and cloud developing tomorrow afternoon. Cloudy with occasional rain on Sunday.Napier: Mainly fine all weekend, and with warm winter highs of 20C.Palmerston North: Mostly cloudy tomorrow, showers – some heavy – easing in the afternoon on Sunday.Wellington: Cloudy with a few showers tomorrow morning, and strong northwesterlies, with heavy rain easing before dawn and strong northwesterlies dying out in the morning on Sunday.Nelson: Cloudy with occasional rain tomorrow, becoming fine on Sunday morning.Christchurch: Scattered rain developing tomorrow afternoon with strong northerlies and a high of 21C switching to mainly fine on Sunday – although a wind change will see the high plunge to 13C.Dunedin: Occasional rain tomorrow, fine on Sunday.Queenstown: Rain clearing tomorrow afternoon, fine on Sunday.