There are numerous warnings, watches and outlooks for the country at the moment by the Government forecaster – so we’ve compiled a snapshot of them all as of 5:25pm Sunday. 

(Please note there will be no further updates to this page this evening).

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Everything below is by Metservice and some thunderstorm predictions differ to WeatherWatch.co.nz.

LAND WARNINGS

Hawkes Bay

Strong Wind Warning, Areas Affected: Hawkes Bay and Wairarapa between Hastings and Masterton, including the Tararua District Westerly winds are likely to rise to gale force this evening (Sunday), with severe gale gusts of 120 km/h or possibly more in exposed places. These severe gale gusts are expected to continue on and off through to Tuesday evening.

Wairarapa

Strong Wind Warning, Areas Affected: Hawkes Bay and Wairarapa between Hastings and Masterton, including the Tararua District Westerly winds are likely to rise to gale force this evening (Sunday), with severe gale gusts of 120 km/h or possibly more in exposed places. These severe gale gusts are expected to continue on and off through to Tuesday evening. Strong Wind Cancellation: Exposed parts of Marlborough, Wellingtonand southern Wairarapa Severe gales in these areas have now eased.

Dunedin City

Strong Wind Warning, Areas Affected: Coastal areas of Southland, Clutha and Dunedin. From about 3pm this afternoon (Sunday) in Southland and 5pm in Otago expect westerly winds to rise to gale force with severe gale gusts 120 km/h, especially in heavy squally showers and thunderstorms. Gale or severe gale winds are likely to continue in these areas for much of the time through Monday and Tuesday. Heavy Snow Warning, Areas Affected: Hill country of eastern Southlandand also Clutha, especially the Catlins Snow is expected to lower to about 300 metres this evening. In the 12 hours from 6pm Sunday to 6am Monday, 10 to 15cm of snow may accumulate above 400 metres with lesser amounts down to 300 metres. These snowfalls wil be accompanied by gale force winds. During Monday morning, the showers should ease and the snow level gradually rise above 700 metres.

Otago

Strong Wind Warning, Areas Affected: Coastal areas of Southland, Clutha and Dunedin. From about 3pm this afternoon (Sunday) in Southland and 5pm in Otago expect westerly winds to rise to gale force with severe gale gusts 120 km/h, especially in heavy squally showers and thunderstorms. Gale or severe gale winds are likely to continue in these areas for much of the time through Monday and Tuesday. Heavy Snow Warning, Areas Affected: Hill country of eastern Southlandand also Clutha, especially the Catlins Snow is expected to lower to about 300 metres this evening. In the 12 hours from 6pm Sunday to 6am Monday, 10 to 15cm of snow may accumulate above 400 metres with lesser amounts down to 300 metres. These snowfalls wil be accompanied by gale force winds. During Monday morning, the showers should ease and the snow level gradually rise above 700 metres.

Southern Lakes

Strong Wind Warning, Areas Affected: Coastal areas of Southland, Clutha and Dunedin. From about 3pm this afternoon (Sunday) in Southland and 5pm in Otago expect westerly winds to rise to gale force with severe gale gusts 120 km/h, especially in heavy squally showers and thunderstorms. Gale or severe gale winds are likely to continue in these areas for much of the time through Monday and Tuesday. Heavy Snow Warning, Areas Affected: Hill country of eastern Southlandand also Clutha, especially the Catlins Snow is expected to lower to about 300 metres this evening. In the 12 hours from 6pm Sunday to 6am Monday, 10 to 15cm of snow may accumulate above 400 metres with lesser amounts down to 300 metres. These snowfalls wil be accompanied by gale force winds. During Monday morning, the showers should ease and the snow level gradually rise above 700 metres. 

Southland

Strong Wind Warning, Areas Affected: Coastal areas of Southland, Clutha and Dunedin. From about 3pm this afternoon (Sunday) in Southland and 5pm in Otago expect westerly winds to rise to gale force with severe gale gusts 120 km/h, especially in heavy squally showers and thunderstorms. Gale or severe gale winds are likely to continue in these areas for much of the time through Monday and Tuesday. Heavy Snow Warning, Areas Affected: Hill country of eastern Southlandand also Clutha, especially the Catlins Snow is expected to lower to about 300 metres this evening. In the 12 hours from 6pm Sunday to 6am Monday, 10 to 15cm of snow may accumulate above 400 metres with lesser amounts down to 300 metres. These snowfalls wil be accompanied by gale force winds. During Monday morning, the showers should ease and the snow level gradually rise above 700 metres. 

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH

THUNDERSTORM OUTLOOK

Valid to: 12:00am Monday 16 May 2011
Issued at: 8:56am Sunday 15 May 2011

Two areas of active thunderstorms are expected to move over the country today.

The first feature, associated with several fronts crossing the North Island during the day is currently bringing thunderstorms to the area between Taranaki and Wellington. A high risk of thunderstorms continues in this area during the morning and includes Wairarapa. In the afternoon and evening, the high risk of thunderstorms moves to the area from Taranaki to Bay of Plenty, northern Gisborne and north. Within this area there is a moderate risk of severe thunderstorms and a thunderstorm watch in place for some locations. These thunderstorms are likely to bring localised heavy rain, strong wind gusts, small hail and there is the possibility of small tornadoes as well. With severe thunderstorms, the wind gusts could reach 120 km/h. There is a low risk that thunderstorms could also develop in the central high country and western Hawkes Bay.

A second feature, associated with another front and a cold outbreak is expected to move onto the South Island this afternoon. There is a high risk of thunderstorms developing in Westland south of the Glaciers, Fiordland and coastal Fiordland during the afternoon and continuing through the evening. These thunderstorms are likely to be accompanied by localised heavy rain, strong wind gusts, small hail (especially during the evening) and small tornadoes are possible initially. There is also a low risk of severe thunderstorms here during the afternoon, with wind gusts greater than 110 km/h. As the front moves north through Westland, Buller and northwest Nelson in the evening there is a moderate risk of thunderstorms there. A low risk of thunderstorms exists for the remainder of Southland and also for Clutha.

 

Valid to: 12:00pm Monday 16 May 2011
Issued at: 10:27am Sunday 15 May 2011

A front, moving rapidly east, is expected to cross over central New Zealand before dawn. There is a high risk that this front will bring thunderstorms to Taranaki, Horowhenua, Kapiti Coast, northern Wellington, the Marlborough Sounds and northwest Nelson before dawn. These thunderstorms are likely to cause localised heavy rainfall, strong wind gusts and small tornadoes are also possible. There is a moderate risk that some of these thunderstorms may be severe, with damaging wind gusts of 120 km/h or more. Outside this area, there is a low risk that thunderstorms could develop during the morning from Waikato to Buller, including Wairarapa.

No other areas of severe convection or thunderstorms are expected.
 

 

Valid to: 12:00am Tuesday 17 May 2011
Issued at: 10:30am Sunday 15 May 2011

Another front is due to reach the far south of the South Island around midnight. There is a low risk that thunderstorms will develop with this front and affect southern Fiordland, the south coast of Southland and Stewart Island. If the thunderstorms occur, they are likely to be accompanied by localised heavy rain and strong wind gusts.

No other areas of severe convection or thunderstorms are expected.
 

– MetService – Funded by NZ Govt