08/04/2026
***update 12 April 9.30pm all weather watches and warnings for the Waikato have been lifted.***
***UPDATE Cyclone Vaianu @10.20am, Sunday 12 April. The latest MetService update.
Period: 11hrs from 9:00am Saturday to 8:00pm Sunday (slight time change to the last update).
Forecast: Severe gale easterlies changing to severe gale west to northwesterlies Sunday afternoon, with damaging gusts of 130km/h in exposed places. Note winds easing from the north during Sunday afternoon as the easterlies change to westerly. (wind direction has changed from previous update).
Impact: Threat to life from flying items and falling trees. Destructive winds will cause widespread damage including powerlines and roofs, with dangerous driving conditions and significant disruption to transport and power supply.
Action: Stay indoors or seek sturdy shelter away from trees. Avoid travel. Be ready for power and communication outages
Strong Wind Warning – Orange
Waikato, Waitomo, Taupō and Taumarunui
Period: 18hrs from 9:00am Sunday to 3:00am Monday (slight time change from previous update)
Forecast: Severe gale easterlies changing to severe gale westerly late afternoon or evening Sunday, gusting 120km/h in exposed places.
Low chance of upgrading to a Red 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.
Heavy Rain Warning – Orange
Coromandel Peninsula, and Bay of Plenty west of Whakatane including Rotorua
Period: 8hrs from 9:00am Sunday to 5:00pm Sunday (slight time change from previous update).
Forecast: Expect a further 80 to 120 mm to accumulate on top of what has already fallen, especially about the ranges. Peak intensities of 25 to 40mm/hr possible in downpours this morning and afternoon. Note, in addition to the wind and rain, large swells and coastal inundation are likely.
Moderate 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.
Heavy Rain Watch - Yellow
Waikato
Period: 9hrs from 9:00am Sunday to 6:00pm Sunday (slight time change from previous update).
Forecast: Periods of heavy rain, and amounts may approach warning criteria.
Moderate chance of upgrading to a Warning.
Waitomo, Taumarunui, Taupō and Taranaki
Period: 11hrs from 9:00am Sunday to 8:00pm Sunday (slight time change from previous update).
Forecast: Periods of heavy rain, and amounts may approach warning criteria.
Moderate chance of upgrading to a Warning.
***UPDATE Cyclone Vaianu @9.30pm Saturday 11 April. The latest MetService NZ update.
STRONG WIND WARNING - RED
Coromandel Peninsula and Great Barrier Island
Period: 22hrs from 10.00pm Saturday to 8:00pm Sunday (slight time change since the last update).
Forecast: Severe gale easterlies changing to severe gale west to northwesterlies Sunday afternoon, with damaging gusts of 130km/h in exposed places. Note winds easing from the north during Sunday afternoon.
Strong Wind Warning – Orange
Waikato, Waitomo, Taupo and Taumarunui
Period: 21hrs from 2:00am Sunday to 11:00pm Sunday (slight time change from the last update).
Forecast: Severe gale easterlies changing to severe gale westerly late afternoon or evening Sunday, gusting 120km/h in exposed places.
Low chance of upgrading to a Red Warning.
Heavy Rain Warning – Orange
Coromandel Peninsula, and Bay of Plenty west of Whakatane including Rotorua
Period: 17hrs from 11:00pm Saturday to 4:00pm Sunday
Heavy Rain Watch - Yellow
Waikato
Period: 17hrs from 1:00am Sunday to 6:00pm Sunday
Forecast: Periods of heavy rain, and amounts may approach warning criteria.
Moderate chance of upgrading to a Warning.
Waitomo, Taumarunui, Taupō and Taranaki
Period: 12hrs from 8:00am Sunday to 8:00pm Sunday
Forecast: Periods of heavy rain, and amounts may approach warning criteria.
Moderate chance of upgrading to a Warning.***
Download the MetService New Zealand app to get the latest weather notifications direct to your phone. https://about.metservice.com/weather-apps -weather-app
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***UPDATE Cyclone Vaianu , Saturday 11 April
🔴 RED WIND WARNING now in place for the The Bay of Plenty and Rotorua Strong which will impact some in our region too.
Warning is currently in place from 4am to 8pm tomorrow, Sunday 12 April.
Full details: https://www.metservice.com/warnings/home
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***UPDATE Cyclone Vaianu @9.30pm, Friday 10 April
MetService New Zealand latest on the Red and Orange warnings across the region.
🔴 RED WIND WARNING for the Coromandel Peninsula from 1am - 6pm on Sunday.
🟠 ORANGE HEAVY RAIN WARNING for the Coromandel Peninsula, and Bay of Plenty west of Whakatane including Rotorua from 2am - 4pm on Sunday.
🟠 ORANGE WIND WARNING for Waikato, Waitomo, Taupo and Taumarunui from 4am to 10pm on Sunday
Heavy rain and strong winds may cause widespread damage including powerlines and roofs, with dangerous driving conditions and significant disruption to transport and power supply.
Take care as streams and rivers may rise rapidly, with surface flooding and slips possible.
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**UPDATE Cyclone Vaianu @ 4.50pm, Thursday 9 April
We’re continuing to monitor Cyclone Vaianu as it moves closer to New Zealand, expecting to make landfall within our region on Sunday.
Heavy rain and strong winds may cause:
• Flash flooding and rapidly rising water
• Landslides and falling trees
• Dangerous driving conditions and road closures
• Power outages
A significant wave event, associated with Vaianu, is also likely to cause moderate to significant coastal erosion impacts for parts of the region around the Eastern Coromandel Peninsula and the Firth of Thames. Use caution and try to avoid the beaches during Saturday and Sunday.
Leading up to this, Severe Weather Warnings and Watches have also been issued by MetService New Zealand across the North Island and will be updated for the areas expecting severe gales and heavy rain from Saturday evening to Monday.
If you haven’t already, now’s a good time to take a few simple steps around home to get ready for wet and windy weather https://getready.govt.nz/ including getting farm animals situated Waikato Rural Support Trust
More warning info: metservice.com/warnings
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⚠️ Heads up, wet and windy conditions could be on the cards going into the weekend 🌧️
We’re keeping an eye on Cyclone Vaianu, which may bring strong winds and heavy rain to parts of the North Island. Its exact track is still uncertain, and we’ll keep you updated as we know more.
While there’s still uncertainty, now is a good time to get a few things sorted at home:
✔ Clear gutters and drains
✔ Bring in or secure loose outdoor items (e.g. garden furniture, trampolines)
✔ Check on whānau, neighbours, and anyone who might need help
✔ Move farm animals to areas that are safe from flooding and high winds, and stay up to date with support from Waikato Rural Support Trust
✔ Stay up to date with the latest weather information from MetService New Zealand
More information on preparing for storms is available at https://getready.govt.nz/
If this situation is stressful or you need support, you can free text or call 1737 to speak to a counsellor, or call Healthline on 0800 611 116.
Please share this information with whānau and friends, and we’ll share updates as we know more.
