The Manawatū-Whanganui Region frequently faces severe weather events with the capacity to cause significant damage and disruption.
Storms can bring strong winds, heavy rain, thunderstorms and heavy swells, and cause flooding due to rising river levels from heavy rain and sudden downpours. The most impactful form of storms we experience are cyclones.
Cyclones are severe low pressure weather systems that form in the warm seas of the tropics north of New Zealand. Cyclones can be categorised in five levels according to the maximum wind speeds within the system. On average, ten named cyclones will form in the Pacific Ocean each year, but this does not always result in cyclones reaching New Zealand.
Get ready for storms and cyclones
- Have materials and tools ready to repair windows, such as tarpaulins, boards and duct tape.
- Work out what supplies you might need during a storms and make a plan.
- Identify a safe place in your home to gather during a thunderstorm. This should be a place where there are no windows, skylights or glass doors, as they could break in strong winds or hail and cause damage or injury.
What you need to know
- Secure outdoor furniture and trampolines.
- Clear gutters and drains if you have time.
- Keep up to date with MetService weather forecasts.
- Make sure you have your grab bags ready to go.
- Bring pets inside.
- Stay indoors, avoid driving.
- Close windows and curtains.
- Stay informed by listening to your local radio station and following MetService and Civil Defence Manawatū-Whanganui on Facebook.
- Listen to the radio and follow official advice from Emergency Management and emergency services online.
- Check for injuries and get first aid if necessary.
- Help others if you can, especially people who may need extra help.
- Keep up to date with MetService weather forecasts.
- If your property is damaged, take notes and photographs for insurance purposes. If you rent your property, contact your landlord and your contents insurance company as soon as possible.
While tornadoes are rare, they do happen occasionally in our region, so it’s important to know what to do.
- Warning signs include a long, continuous roar or rumble or a fast-approaching cloud of debris which can sometimes be funnel shaped.
- If you see or hear a tornado, take shelter immediately. If you are inside, move to an internal room or one with the least number of windows and take shelter under something sturdy.
- If you are outside or in a car, try and get indoors as quickly as possible. If you can’t, then lie down flat in a ditch or a low spot and protect your head and neck. Do not try and outrun a tornado.
Ngā pārongo mō tō rohe Find information about your district
The Manawatū-Whanganui CDEM Group works together to reduce the potential effects of hazards across all of our districts.
Palmerston North City
A lively university city and the main urban hub of the Manawatū-Whanganui Region.
Manawatū
A fertile river plain district recognised for agriculture, research, and transport links.
Horowhenua
A coastal district known for fertile farmland, market gardens and booming population.
Tararua
A rural area stretching from the Ruahine and Tararua ranges to the Pacific coast.
Rangitīkei
Characterised by dramatic river gorges, rolling farmland, and small rural towns.
Whanganui
A district characterised by the river which flows through it.
Ruapehu
Home to ski fields, volcanic landscapes and many rural communities.
Stay Informed
Check out Metservice or download the Metservice app to stay updated with weather conditions and warnings for the region.
