Live: ‘Significant deluge’ hammers Dunedin, evacuation centre opened

Monday, 6 July 2026

Orange heavy snow warnings are in place across Otago and northern Southland.

What you need to know

Heavy rain, severe gales and snow are forecast to lash parts of the country from Sunday through Tuesday.
A red heavy rain warning is in place for coastal Dunedin and Clutha until Monday morning.
An orange heavy snow warning is in place throughout Otago and parts of Southland until Monday morning.
The strong, cold southeast flow building over the lower South Island is due to head north, with parts of Canterbury and Marlborough under an orange rain warning for 26 hours from 4pm Monday.
Dunedin City Council has opened an evacuation centre in Mosgiel.
Are you affected by the severe weather? Email newstips@stuffdigital.co.nz

FULL STORY:

Heavy rain, severe gales and snow is forecast to lash parts of the country on Sunday - and other regions are in for a wet start to the week from Monday.

A red heavy rain warning is in place for coastal Dunedin and Clutha, with 80 to 120mm of rain and the heaviest falls likely from late Sunday afternoon until early Monday morning.

Red warnings are reserved for the most extreme weather events.

“A red warning signifies that people need to act now as immediate action is required to protect people, animals and property from the impact of the weather,” said MetService meteorologist John Law.

“People should also be prepared to follow the advice of official authorities and emergency services.”

Law said heavy rain of this kind - in place for 21 hours from noon on Sunday - risks dangerous river conditions, flooding and slips, and will likely result in dangerous driving conditions and road closures. People should avoid travel if possible, and prepare for power and communications outages.

MetService has also issued severe weather watches for parts of Canterbury, having already warned of heavy rain and snow and strong winds for the lower South Island.

“A strong, cold southeast flow builds over the lower South Island tonight, and persists into Monday and Tuesday,” the agency said.

“Heavy rain is likely for low lying parts of Otago and Southland (especially Dunedin and Clutha), also inland parts of north Canterbury and Marlborough.

“Heavy snow is expected about inland Otago and possibly south Canterbury. In addition, southeast gales may become severe for parts of Fiordland and the West Coast.”

People living in these areas were advised to keep updated with the latest forecasts and warnings.

Dunedin City Council has opened sandbag stations at the ice stadium and Mosgiel Memorial carpark, and has dispatched contractors to clear mud tanks and drains in low-lying areas. A civil defence bunker is being opened this afternoon, and flood barriers will be installed in Surrey St.

Lindis Pass shortly before 11am on Sunday.

Where there will be snow

A heavy snow warning is in place for Otago, excluding coastal areas, and northern Southland, for 24 hours from 6am on Sunday.

Road snowfall warnings are in place for Haast Pass, Lindis Pass, Crown Range Road, Milford Road, and the Dunedin to Waitati Highway.

“Snow is expected to develop Sunday morning and the level lowers during the day, possibly down to 200 metres in places,” MetService said.

“Between 400 and 600 metres, 15 to 30 cm of snow is expected, especially south of Queenstown to Middlemarch, but accumulations may exceed 1 metre above 800 metres altitude.”

South Canterbury south of the Rangitata River also has a heavy snow watch, for 24 hours from 3am Monday, with periods of heavy snow above 800m, and lesser amounts to 400m.

Heavy rain arrives

A heavy rain warning covers coastal Otago, for 27 hours from 6am on Sunday, with 80 to 120mm of rain forecast, and the heaviest falls likely from late Sunday afternoon until early Monday morning.

The heavy rain warning was issued at a lower threshold for eastern Otago, particularly Dunedin, because of the low-lying nature of many areas, including South Dunedin.

“Streams and rivers may rise rapidly. Surface flooding, slips, and difficult driving conditions possible,” MetService said.

A heavy rain watch is also in place for mainland Southland, for 14 hours from 9am Sunday, and for inland Canterbury, “about and north of the Rangitata River”, for 25 hours from 12pm Monday.

Rain is on the way for much of the country. (File photo)

New strong wind watches have also been updated for the West Coast south of Westport (16 hours from 10am Monday), and Fiordland north of Doubtful Sound and west of the main divide (20 hours from 10pm Sunday).

Ski fields should get welcome snow - MetService

Gerard Bellam, a forecaster at MetService, told Stuff that lower South Island areas affected by snow include “a lot of high country farms and the ski fields, and that is why some of those higher roads are affected”.

Snow would be welcome at ski fields including Treble Cone, Bellam said.

Earlier, NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) said the “biggest snowfalls of the winter so far” could mean state highway closures, restrictions and an urgency to plan and prepare as the school holidays get underway.

NZTA said there is up to 20cm of snow forecast to fall in the Porters Pass (State Highway 73) and Lewis Pass (State Highway 7) areas on Monday.

“While there is a risk of 10-plus cm in the Burkes Pass to Lake Tekapo area in the Mackenzie Basin on Tuesday.”

In terms of the main centres in the North Island, Auckland is mostly fine on Sunday, with rain on Monday easing to a few showers in the morning.

Showers in Hamilton turn to rain towards evening, and Monday brings more showers, turning to rain for a time in the morning.

Wellington has rain and showers today, while on Monday the forecast is for fine weather, with a few showers developing in the morning.