Severe gales forecast across central, southern New Zealand (2025)

MetService says there will be severe gales across central and southern New Zealand, including the Chatham Islands on Tuesday.

A low pressure system is forecast to move across the South Island bringing a burst of rain to eastern Otago.

A strong wind warning is in place for Banks Peninsula from 11am-6pm on Tuesday with southwesterlies expected to gust up to 120km/h in exposed places.

Wind and rain is expected right down the East Coast of the South Island throughout Tuesday, from Canterbury to Eastern Otago south of Balclutha.

MetService said the gales could cause damage to trees and powerlines and may make driving difficult, particularly for high-sided vehicles and motorcycles.

Wind watches are in place for parts of the North and South islands, as well as the Chathams.

Strong Wind Watch

• Wairarapa including the Tararua District, also Hawke's Bay about and south of Hastings from 11am-8pm, Tuesday.
• Wellington and the Marlborough Sounds from 6am-4pm, Tuesday.
• Tasman northwest of Motueka from 9am - 5pm, Tuesday.
• Eastern Otago from 3am - 11am, Tuesday.
• Coastal areas of Dunedin and North Otago, Canterbury Plains, and Christchurch excluding Banks Peninsula from 9am - 5pm, Tuesday.
• The Chatham Islands from 10pm Tuesday to 5am Wednesday.

Kāpiti Coast

MetService meteorologist Claire O'Connor said seas were building on the Kāpiti coast on Tuesday morning, reaching 5-metre swells offshore north of Kāpiti Island, and 3 metres south of the island.

Heavy swell warnings are in place for the coast from Ōtaki to Pipinui Point until 6pm on Tuesday.

Swells would peak late Tuesday morning or early afternoon, before easing off, O'Connor said.

Heavy rain and possible thunderstorms were also expected, but that would ease with the swells and the coast might even see some afternoon sunshine, O'Connor said.

Southerly winds would see temperatures drop to single digits overnight.

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