Heavy rain and strong winds are expected to hit much of the South Island over the weekend, but it should be mostly fine in the north with a few showers.
MetService says bands of rain are expected to push northeast across the country, preceded by strong northwesterly winds.
A number of MetService heavy rain warnings are in place:
- Buller and Grey from midday Saturday until 6am with up to 120mm of rain forecast
- Westland Ranges from midnight Friday until midnight Saturday with up to 170mm of rain forecast
- Fiordland from 10pm Friday until 7am Saturday with up to 100mm of rain forecast
- Headwaters of the Canterbury lakes and rivers up to 130mm of rain forecast
- Headwaters of the Otago lakes and rivers up to 120mm of rain forecast
The bands of rain that are pushing across the country will be preceded by strong northwesterly winds and there are strong wind warnings in place in a number of South Island places:
- Canterbury High Country from 11pm Friday until 1pm Saturday with gusts of up to 130km/h in exposed places
- Southland, Fiordland, and Stewart Island from 4pm Friday until 6am Saturday with gusts of up to 120km/h in exposed places
- A strong wind watch is in place for Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes District from 9pm Friday until 9am Saturday
⚠️Severe Weather Update ️
— MetService (@MetService) October 16, 2025
Strong Wind Warnings and Heavy Rain Warnings have been issued for the South Island.
Please take care. For more information on the latest warnings: https://t.co/os2FgIccAM@CanterburyEM @OtagoCDEM @nztacwc @nztaos pic.twitter.com/0LMDc8LlBn
MetService meteorologist Alanna Burrows said it would pay to be prepared if you are going to the T20 New Zealand versus England cricket game in Christchurch on Saturday night.
MetService severe weather warnings on Friday 17 October 2025. Photo: Screenshot / MetService
"It might be worth preparing for all weathers and taking some warm clothes and a coat, as well as keeping an eye on the MetService website for updates to the forecast closer to the start time."
In the North Island, Auckland has a high of 20C and 21C on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
Saturday is set to be mainly fine in Auckland with northerlies and the chance of a shower, while Sunday is expected to be partly cloudy, with the chance of a shower in the afternoon and northwesterlies, turning southwesterly.
In Wellington a high of 16C is forecast on both Saturday and Sunday, but a few showers and gale northwesterlies are likely on Saturday afternoon. Showers set to clear on Sunday and the wind likely to ease.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
