FINAL UPDATE on Cyclone Vaianu – 10.30am, Monday 13 April: Mōrena koutou, all warnings for Wairarapa have been cancelled or have expired. We are thinking of those affected up north. Thank you for patience and for following preparedness advice. Cyclones are unpredictable and tracking is difficult to forecast. It’s always better to be safe than be caught out by severe weather.
Tropical Cyclone Vaianu is forecast to bring severe wind and rain to Aotearoa over the weekend of 11-12 April 2026.
All information on this page aims to be relevant and up to date.
This webpage was last updated at: 12pm, Sunday 12 April 2026.
Weather forecast for South Wairarapa
The following is the forecast for Wairarapa as at Saturday afternoon. Visit the MetService website for up-to-date weather information.
Heavy Rain Watch
Period: 12hrs from 11am – 11pm Sun, 12 Apr
Area: Wairarapa and the Tararua District, also eastern and southern parts of Wellington, excluding the Tararua Range
Forecast: Periods of heavy rain, and amounts may approach warning criteria. Moderate chance of upgrading to a Warning.
Strong Wind Watch
Period: 11hrs from 10pm Sun, 12 Apr – 9am Mon, 13 Apr
Area: Wairarapa, excluding the Tararua District
Forecast: Easterly quarter winds turning west to northwest Sunday evening. West to northwest winds may reach severe gale in exposed places. Moderate chance of upgrading to a Warning.
Heavy Swell Warning
Period: 15hrs from noon Sun, 12 Apr – 3am Mon, 13 Apr
Area: Wairarapa – Cape Palliser (Lighthouse) to Mataikona
Forecast: Northeast combined waves reaching 6-6.5 metres by Sunday afternoon, easing below 6 metres by late evening Sunday. Peak period 12 seconds. Note that the main risk period for your criteria is during the late evening Sunday, given that the pressure minimum is at that time and that high tide is expected just after midnight.
Heavy Rain Warning – Orange
Period: 13hrs from 11am – midnight Sun, 12 Apr
Area: The Tararua Range
Forecast: Expect 90 to 120 mm of rain. Peak rates of 15 to 25 mm/h expected Sunday afternoon and evening. Minimal 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. Preparedness advice.
Heavy Rain Warning – Orange
Period: 13hrs from 11am – midnight Sun, 12 Apr
Area: Coastal hills of central Hawke’s Bay south of Cape Kidnappers and Wairarapa
Forecast: Expect 70 to 100 mm about the coastal hills, with lesser amounts elsewhere. Peak rates of 25 to 40 mm/h possible in localised downpours this afternoon and evening. 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. Preparedness advice.
Current situation for South Wairarapa
South Wairarapa District Council teams are preparing alongside other Wairarapa councils for an Emergency Management response, should it be needed, for when the storm hits. We will post relevant information for our community to this webpage, to our Facebook page, and to Antenno.
While the cyclone is now tracking further east than expected, and lessens the chance of severe impacts to the Wairarapa, we will continue to monitor any impacts for the region and will share further information on our website and social media if circumstances change.
Stay informed
- Tune in to The Breeze FM (99.1FM from Eketahuna to Pirinoa, and 99.9FM for Castlepoint and Riversdale) or RNZ (101.5FM / 567AM)
- Follow us, MetService, Wellington Region Emergency Management Office, and Waka Kotahi NZTA – Wellington on Facebook
- Sign up to Antenno for Council news and updates direct to your phone: https://swdc.govt.nz/services/antenno/
Report damage and issues
Use these channels to report issues you come across:
- Call emergency services (police, fire, ambulance) on 111 if the situation is life threatening
- Reports about Council infrastructure and assets can be made via the Antenno app: https://swdc.govt.nz/services/antenno/
- Call our Customer Service team on 06 306 9611
- Use the Get it Sorted online form: https://swdc.govt.nz/contact-us/get-it-sorted/
Where to find more information
MetService for up-to-date weather forecasts: https://www.metservice.com/rural/regions/wairarapa/
Wellington Region Emergency Management Office (WREMO) official information and advice: Facebook and website
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency for information on State Highways: https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/highway-conditions/wellington
Advice to prepare for a severe weather event: https://swdc.govt.nz/notices-and-updates/be-prepared-for-tropical-cyclone-vaianu/