09/04/2026
🌪️ Tropical Cyclone Vaianu is continuing to make its way towards Aotearoa New Zealand. The track the cyclone will take is becoming more certain as time goes on (thanks for your mahi, MetService New Zealand). It looks like Vaianu will most impact our region on Sunday afternoon/evening, with wind currently forecast to be the major issue.
🟡 There are two different severe weather watches in place for the region.
💨 The entire region is under a strong wind watch from 4am Sunday 12 April until 1am Monday 13 April. Easterly winds are expected to turn west-to-southwesterly during this time, with severe gales in exposed places. There is a high chance this watch will be upgraded to a strong wind warning, and we’ll share that warning if/when it comes through.
🌧️ A heavy rain watch is in place for northern parts of Ruapehu District (Waimarino National Park and up) from 8am until 8pm Sunday 12 April. Heavy rain is forecast. This watch has a moderate chance of being upgraded to a warning.
👀 We had a meeting at 3pm today with councils, emergency services, lifeline utilities operators and other organisations involved in emergency management and civil defence in our region. Everyone is continuing to monitor Vaianu and get prepared for what it may bring. This includes organising staff to work throughout the weekend, especially on Sunday.
❌ Before you ask - no, there are no states of emergency in place for anywhere in our region. It is too early for those kinds of conversations.
🫵 We’re getting prepared for Vaianu, so you should too.
🏃♂️ Decide where you will go if you need to evacuate and make sure everyone in your household knows. Your evacuation place will probably be with friends or family, so make sure they know your plans.
🎒 Have a grab bag ready for everyone in your household. Each bag should have the following:
✅ Warm clothes
✅ Bottled of water
✅ Snacks
✅ Copies of important documents
✅ Photo ID.
💊 Remember to pack any medications you may need if you need to evacuate. You should also keep your first aid kit, torch, radio and batteries, mobility devices and any other essential supplies somewhere you can grab them in a hurry if you have to evacuate.
🐈 Before the weather starts, bring pets indoors and move animals to a safe place. Your pets can get unsettled by storms and it is more comforting and safer for them to be with you.
🔋 Prepare for power outages. Fully charge your phones and power banks and check you have data or credit on your phone.
👉 Head to our website for information on how to get ready for a storm, as well as the latest weather watches and warnings (they automatically populate the top of each webpage): https://www.mwcdem.govt.nz/regional-hazards/storms
