Alert opened: 21 Oct 2025
MetService Severe Weather Warning
Issued at 8:59pm Tue 21 Oct 2025
Damaging gales and heavy rain for southern and central New Zealand on Thursday
An active front, associated with a significant deep low to the south, moves over southern and central New Zealand on Thursday.
Warnings and Watches for heavy rain and severe gales are in force.
Significant impacts are expected and there is a possibility that some Orange Warnings may be upgraded to Red Warnings. Please stay up to date with forecasts.
Heavy Rain Warning - Orange
Area: The headwaters of the Otago lakes and rivers
Period: 14 hours from 12:00am Thu 23 Oct to 2:00pm Thu 23 Oct
Forecast: Expect 180 to 220 mm of rain about the main divide, and to 70 to 150 mm within 40 km farther east. Peak rates of 30 to 40 mm/h expected about the divide Thursday morning. Thunderstorms possible. Snow level about 2500 metres.
Low chance of upgrading to a Red Warning.
The forecast event will have the five following conditions combining to cause elevated lake and river levels:
Area: The headwaters of the Canterbury lakes and rivers
Period: 16 hours from 1:00am Thu 23 Oct to 5:00pm Thu 23 Oct
Forecast: Expect 200 to 250 mm of rain about the main divide, and 80 to 160 mm within 40 km farther east. Peak rates of 30 to 40 mm/h expected about the divide Thursday morning. Thunderstorms possible. Snow level about 2600 metres.
Low chance of upgrading to a Red Warning.
Impact: Streams and rivers may rise rapidly. Surface flooding, slips, and difficult driving conditions possible.
Action: Clear your drains and gutters to prepare for heavy rain. Avoid low-lying areas and drive cautiously.
Strong Wind Watch
Area: North Otago, Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes District
Period: 11 hours from 3:00am Thu 23 Oct to 2:00pm Thu 23 Oct
Forecast: Northwest winds may approach severe gale in exposed places.
High chance of upgrading to a Warning.
Area: Dunedin, Clutha, Southland and Stewart Island
Period: 13 hours from 3:00am Thu 23 Oct to 4:00pm Thu 23 Oct
Forecast: Northwest winds may reach severe gale in exposed places, followed by a change to southwest winds Thursday afternoon, which may also reach severe gale in exposed places.
High chance of upgrading to a Warning.
Impact: Damage to trees, powerlines, and unsecured structures possible. Driving may be difficult, especially for high-sided vehicles and motorcycles.
Action: Prepare your property by securing items that can be picked up by strong winds. Drive cautiously.
Affected districts
Queenstown Lakes District is a breath-taking destination nestled on the shores of Lakes Whakaitpu and Wanaka and surrounded by majestic mountains, making it one of the most picturesque places in the world. Known as the Adventure Capital of New Zealand, the district offers an exhilarating array of outdoor activities all year round.
Queenstown Lakes District can experience flooding, storms, earthquakes, snow, infrastructure failure, space weather and lake seiche.
For more information about hazards in the Queenstown Lakes district, visit Otago Regional Council's natural hazards portal
Being prepared to look after yourself during an emergency will help you, your family and community through times of disruption.
If life or property is at immediate risk, always call 111.
If you need assistance during an emergency, your first point of contact should be family, friends, neighbours, work colleagues, or those immediately around you wherever you are.
During an emergency, information will be available through several channels from Queenstown Lakes District Council and Emergency Management Otago.
When an emergency affects the district, Queenstown Lakes District Council will provide information to the community and visitors through a variety of channels, including their website and Facebook pages.
The Council may use traditional media channels like radio and local newspapers to share information if available.
Sign up to Otago Gets Ready to receive alerts.
More FM - 92 FM
The Hits - 90.4 FM
Newstalk ZB - 89.6 FM
RNZ National - 101.6 FM/1134 AM
Radio Wanaka - 92.2 FM
More FM - 99.4 FM
The Hits - 96.2 FM
RNZ - 101.0 FM
Newstalk ZB 90.6 FM
Leave home only if you are in immediate danger or if you are officially advised to.
Stay inside (unless you are advised to evacuate) if there is a chemical or gas disaster or a storm. Listen to the radio, look at online media channels or TV for information. If the power is off, you can use a radio app on your phone, a solar or battery powered radio or your car radio.
If you need to evacuate, secure your home as though you were going on holiday and turn off power, water, and gas. Ensure each adult in your household knows how to turn these off.
Evacuate if there is:
No one knows a community better than those who live in it!
Community Resilience Groups are a team people in your area who are trained to open and run a Community Emergency hub. They work with Emergency Management Otago to develop community response plans by the community, for the community. They are a great way for the community to come together, discuss and outline how they plan to respond and keep each other safe during an emergency event.
To ensure that Community Resilience Groups have the capability to activate, training can be provided by Emergency Management Otago to cover:
Contact your local Emergency Management Advisor for further information on creating a community resilience group for your area or to join an existing one.
Emergency Management Otago works with communities across Queenstown Lakes Districts to develop capability and resilience within each community so that they can prepare for and respond to emergencies.
Together we have created a series of community resilience guides. These are living documents and are a short, ready-reference guide with information about local hazards and practical tips for preparedness.
Arrowtown Community Resilience Guide
Arthurs Point Community Resilience Guide
Bobs Cove Wilson Bay Community Resilience Guide
Cardrona Community Resilience Guide
Fernhill Sunshine Bay Community Resilience Guide
Frankton Quail Rise Community Resilience Guide
Gibbston Valley Community Resilience Guide
Glenorchy Community Resilience Guide
Kelvin Peninsula, Jacks Point , Henley Farm Community Resilience Guide
Kingston Community Resilience Guide
Lake Hawea Hawea Flat Community Resilience Guide
Luggate Community Resilience Guide
Makarora Community Resilience Guide
Queenstown CBD Community Resilience Guide
