Canterbury severe weather, October 2025

The story so far

MetService issued multiple orange-level warnings for heavy rain and strong winds across much of New Zealand as two significant weather systems approached, the first due Monday and a potentially highly impactful event on Thursday that may affect almost the entire country.^{19 Oct 2025} MainPower restored electricity to thousands of Canterbury homes after Thursday's storm.^{27 Oct 2025} A further low pressure system was forecast to bring rain and severe gales across much of New Zealand through Tuesday.^{27 Oct 2025} Heavy snow in the South Island trapped vehicles and closed some state highways, while a lightning strike caused a grid emergency and power outages in central North Island areas; in the Clutha region, power may be out for several weeks.^{28 Oct 2025} A storm the previous week brought wild winds and downed trees across North Canterbury's Hurunui district, and a community clean-up followed.^{30 Oct 2025}

Latest

The Hurunui Garden Festival will go ahead after the community clean-up following last week's storm.^{30 Oct 2025} Power in the Clutha region may be out for several weeks, according to the latest report.^{28 Oct 2025}

Key moments

1. 19 Oct 2025MetService issues multiple orange warnings for heavy rain and strong winds
2. 19 Oct 2025Forecast of a potentially highly impactful Thursday event affecting almost the entire country
3. 27 Oct 2025MainPower restores power to thousands of Canterbury homes after Thursday's storm
4. 27 Oct 2025Further low pressure system forecast to bring severe gales through Tuesday
5. 28 Oct 2025Lightning strike causes grid emergency and outages in central North Island
6. 28 Oct 2025Heavy snow traps vehicles and closes some South Island state highways
7. 28 Oct 2025Clutha region power may be out for several weeks
8. 30 Oct 2025Hurunui Garden Festival set to proceed after storm clean-up

Written from the stories below; each sentence links to its sources.