Weather warnings

Few areas are likely to escape the storm unscathed, with thunderstorms, heavy rain, hail and potentially even more tornados ahead.

And those articles are free. It just doesn’t look like we're going to get a prolonged seated spell.” The majority were over water – 1119 struck over land in the North Island and 256 on land in the South Island. As at 3pm on Sunday more than 42 warnings and watches were in place across the motu, 19 in the North Island and 23 in the South, as forecasters warned of a potentially damaging start to the week. There were 18,039 lightning strikes recorded by MetService in the 12 hours to 9.30am, and on Sunday afternoon that pattern showed no sign of diminishing. Parts of Taranaki and Waitomo, as well as the Wellington region, were under a severe thunderstorm watch on Sunday afternoon.

"Air pressure in the lower South Island today is expected to drop to 967hPa in Bluff, which it hasn't done for at least a decade."

Power has been lost in parts of New Plymouth and nearby towns, and Lower Hutt is being hit by flooding, while weather warnings have been issued for much of ...

And those articles are free. It’s another cold and wet week for many areas, as winter settles in around Aotearoa. Follow our live coverage. We're 100% locally owned, and our team is of the people, for the people.

With 41 weather warnings and watches across NZ, forecasters warn of a stormy night.

The weather system was sitting in the Tasman Sea but had come up from the south and had brought a lot of cold air with it. "It's very stormy weather across many parts of the country ... as well as squally thundery showers, there's also strong winds and heavy rain," he said. And as of 5pm, there were 41 warnings and watches across the country - including 18 across the North Island and 23 on the Mainland - as forecasters warn of a stormy night ahead. Waka Kotahi NZTA also warned of strong winds on the Auckland Harbour Bridge and told motorists to prepare for its possible closure. MetService duty forecaster Gerard Bellam said heavy rainfall in the area – with 20mm an hour between 4pm and 6pm, and another 16mm between 6pm and 7pm – could produce that sort of weather activity. At least two small tornados have caused damage on the Kapiti Coast, north of Wellington, tonight as great swathes of New Zealand batten down the hatches to guard against a rolling line of thunderstorms striking the country.

Severe weather warnings – with heavy rain, snow and strong winds – are in place for much of the country today and forecasters are warning people to batten.

Wild winter weather: NZ battens down the hatches; 21,500 lightning strikes in 12 hours Wild winter weather: NZ battens down the hatches; 21,500 lightning strikes in 12 hours The weather system was sitting in the Tasman Sea but had come up from the south and had brought a lot of cold air with it. Snow blanketed parts of Central Otago yesterday, bringing joy to the region's ski fields, with Cardrona ski field opening early and other southern mountains set to follow suit in the coming days. It's still snowing in the lower South Island, though not as low as Saturday when snow was down to sea level, but it's still blocking roads in some areas. There has already been 21,500 lightning strikes over land and water in 12 hours, MetService says, with more thunderstorms on their way.

WeatherWatch.co.nz forecast air pressure in the lower South Island today to drop to 967hPa in Bluff, which it hasn't done for at least a decade and is very low ...

With the large low not really moving from NZ for another day or two the weather is set to be on rinse and repeat until about Tuesday, when a tamer westerly flow moves in for many regions. More deep low pressure in the Southern Ocean is expected to drag in wintry weather for parts of the South Island across the coming week while the North Island may feel more like Autumn. WeatherWatch.co.nz forecast air pressure in the lower South Island today to drop to 967hPa in Bluff, which it hasn’t done for at least a decade and is very low air pressure for NZ. Some weather stations may have now dropped below 965hPa in Southland and Fiordland with the new centre of this big low nearby.

Stuff journalist Iain McGregor took this footage of the snow falling on State Highway 8 from Wānaka to Dunedin on Saturday afternoon. Winter storms brought by a ...

And those articles are free. It just doesn’t look like we're going to get a prolonged seated spell.” The majority were over water – 1119 struck over land in the North Island and 256 on land in the South Island. As at 3pm on Sunday more than 42 warnings and watches were in place across the motu, 19 in the North Island and 23 in the South, as forecasters warned of a potentially damaging start to the week. There were 18,039 lightning strikes recorded by MetService in the 12 hours to 9.30am, and on Sunday afternoon that pattern showed no sign of diminishing. Parts of Taranaki and Waitomo, as well as the Wellington region, were under a severe thunderstorm watch on Sunday afternoon.

Stormy weather is set to continue with thunderstorms, heavy rain and strong winds forecast for much of the country, a day after two small tornadoes and ...

In the Upper Buller Gorge, a slip has come down closing SH6 from 8 Mile to Inangahua. It is forecasting the weather will settle from Wednesday. She said it was as wide as the two-laned road, and she pulled her car over and braced herself inside it. Paremata School was closed on Monday. Heavy rain warnings are in place for North Taranaki, Taihape, the west of Taupō, Taumarunui, Waitomo, Tararua Range, Horowhenua to Wellington north of Johnsonville and Westland south of Otira. Strong wind warnings are in force in Wellington in Wairarapa and south of Featherston. At at least three homes were flooded, but many more properties had flooded gardens, sheds and garages.

Weather: Storm watch for New Zealand regions - snow, rain, and tornado warnings; Auckland Harbour Bridge under severe wind watch.

Aucklanders are being warned to expect a wild Monday morning commute as more severe weather is forecast to lash the country. He said snowfall was heaviest in the Lakes area and the Milford Rd where about 70cm fell at the Homer Tunnel; and in a rare event, it fell to sea level on Stewart Island. The agency said there was a severe wind watch in place for the Auckland Harbour Bridge and a severe thunderstorm watch for the region. A police spokeswoman said it was a similar scene in Central Otago and the Lakes area. Skifields made the most of the snow storm on Saturday, but after snow drifts reached about a metre and more heavy snow fell overnight, several closed their gates yesterday. Heavy rain, snow showers and winds gusting up to 100km/h kept emergency services busy in Dunedin with small landslips in Caversham; heavy flooding in Marne St, Andersons Bay; fencing and a fallen tree over roads; and ice on the Northern Motorway. The wild winter weather created chaos across parts of Otago and Southland during the weekend, and forecasters are urging southerners to brace themselves for more of the same over the next few days. Drivers of high-sided vehicles and motorcyclists are being encouraged to avoid the harbour bridge while wind warnings are in place, and use State Highways 16 and 18. Snow has closed schools for the day in Wānaka, with Mount Aspiring College and all primary schools in the town shutting the doors. The grim forecast follows a wild weekend of weather, including at least two small tornadoes at Waikanae Beach on the Kāpiti Coast, flooding in the Wellington regions and heavy snowfall in parts of the South Island. She also said off and on showers for the city were expected to fall all day. A wild winter storm - with heavy rain, snow and isolated tornadoes - is set to intensify and spread further across New Zealand today, with dozens of warnings in place.