Auckland and top of North Island hit by severe thunderstorms

Hge News
Dec 3, 2025
2 min read

It's a wild weather day, this is what you need to know

Severe weather is battering parts of the North Island.
Northland and Auckland are under a severe thunderstorm watch until 5pm, with MetService warning of large hail and possible tornados.
Heavy rain is expected in Bay of Plenty and Gisborne until 11pm, with streams and rivers likely to rise rapidly.
An apparent tornado hit the Manawatū town of Dudding Lake around midday, knocking over a caravan and injuring one.
The weather is much more mild in the South Island, however Central Otago could some some thunderstorms later in the day.

Watches and warnings still in place

The active low pressure system over central and northern New Zealand is expected to move to the east of the country on Thursday, and pass eastwards close to the Chatham Islands Thursday night and early Friday morning.

Orange heavy rain warning:

Bay of Plenty including Rotorua, also Gisborne/Tairawhiti north of Ruatoria - from 8pm to 11pm Wednesday.

MetService said people should expect further 20 to 40mm of rain, with highest accumulations expected east of Ōptiōki.

Heavy rain watches still in place or to come:

Wairarapa - from 8pm Wednesday to 5am Thursday.

The Chatham Islands - from 8pm Wednesday to 10am Thursday.

Strong wind watches still in place or to come:

Northland and Auckland, including Great Barrier Island - from 8pm Wednesday to 7am Thursday.

Eastern areas of the Tararua District and Hawke's Bay about and south of Cape Kidnappers and also Mahia Peninsula - from 12am Thursday to 1pm Thursday.

Wairarapa - from 8pm Wednesday to 8am Thursday.

Taranaki - from 8pm Wednesday to 3am Thursday.

Horowhenua to Wellington - from 8pm Wednesday to 4am Thursday.

The Chatham Islands - from 4pm Thursday to 6am Friday.