Alert opened: 26 Oct 2025
MetService Severe Weather Warning
Issued at 11:58am Thu 23 Oct 2025
A significant storm to impact much of New Zealand on Labour Day
An active low-pressure system in the Tasman Sea moves across New Zealand during Labour Day and Tuesday morning, bringing heavy rain and strong winds to many regions, including heavy snow for the Canterbury High Country.
Warnings and Watches are now in force.
People are advised to keep up to date with the latest warnings.
Heavy Snow Warning - Orange
Area: Canterbury High Country south of SH73, Queenstown Lakes District about and north of Wanaka, and Central Otago about and north of Ranfurly
Period: 7 hours from 3:00pm Mon 27 Oct to 10:00pm Mon 27 Oct
Forecast: Heavy rain is expected to develop this morning, then turn to a period of heavy snow this afternoon and evening. Expect 10 to 15 cm of snow to settle above 500 metres, but 20 to 30 cm above 800 metres about the Mackenzie Basin and northern parts of Otago.
Minimal chance of upgrading to a Red Warning.
Impact: Travel disruption and damage to trees and powerlines are possible. Cold conditions may cause stress for livestock.
Action: Prepare for snow, cold temperatures, and possible power outages. If you must travel, drive cautiously, and ensure you have snow chains, sleeping bags, warm clothing, and emergency items.
Heavy Rain Watch
Period: 10hrs from noon - 10pm Mon, 27 Oct
Area: North Otago
Forecast: Periods of heavy rain, and amounts may approach warning criteria. Moderate chance of upgrading to a Warning.
Heavy Snow Watch
Period: 9hrs from 1pm - 10pm Mon, 27 Oct
Area: Queenstown Lakes District and Central Otago not covered by a warning
Forecast: Periods of heavy snow above 500 metres, where snowfall amounts may approach warning criteria. Moderate chance of upgrading to a Warning.
Affected districts
This vibrant district is home to nearly 23,200 residents and reaches inland from the Waitaki River mouth up the Waitaki Valley through Ohau to the top of the Ahuriri River Valley and extends south along the east coast beyond Palmerston to Flag Swamp.
The Waitaki District can experience storms, flooding, earthquakes, infrastructure failure, space weather and has low lying areas that are at risk to tsunami.
For more information about hazards in the Waitaki 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 Emergency Management Otago and Waitaki District Council.
When an emergency affects the district, the Waitaki District Council will provide information to the community and visitors through a variety of channels, including their website and Facebook
The Council will also use traditional media channels like radio and local newspapers to share information if available.
Radio Stations
More FM - 100 FM
RNZ National - 101.4 FM & 810 AM
Newstalk ZB - 1395 AM
Oamaru Heritage Radio - 88.3 & 107 FM
Real - 104FM
The Hits - 98.4 FM
Oamaru FM - 91.2FM
The Breeze- 97.6 FM
Puketapu Radio - 756 AM
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 Waitaki 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.
Duntroon Community Resilience Guide
Hampden Community Resilience Guide
Kakanui Community Resilience Guide
Kurow Community Resilience Guide
Moeraki Community Resilience Guide
Oamaru Community Resilience Guide
Ohau Community Resilience Guide
Omarama Community Resilience Guide
Otematata Community Resilience Guide
Waihemo Community Resilience Guide
Waitaki Bridge & Kaik Fishing Village Community Resilience Guide
