MetService Warns: Cyclone Vaianu Moves South; Red and Orange Warnings Incoming for New Zealand

As of **Friday, April 10, 2026**, Tropical Cyclone Vaianu has officially transitioned into a deep extra-tropical system, posing a direct and severe threat to New Zealand’s North Island. MetService has issued a stark warning to all residents: the system is moving faster than anticipated, with **Red and Orange Severe Weather Warnings** set to activate across the weekend.

The cyclone, which peaked as a Category 3 system near Fiji, is carrying sustained winds of **150 km/h** at its core. Forecasters predict that the first impacts will hit Northland late Saturday night, before the system sweeps across Auckland and the Coromandel Peninsula on Sunday, April 12. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has placed emergency agencies on “Full Notice,” describing the storm as a potentially life-threatening event.

Meteorologists are particularly concerned about the “multi-hazard” nature of Vaianu. It is not just the wind; the system is expected to dump up to **300mm of rain** in less than 24 hours in some regions. With the ground already saturated from a wet autumn, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) warned that landslides are “almost certain” in hilly eastern areas.

Auckland Emergency Management (AEM) has already activated its Coordination Centre. “Aucklanders need to start preparing their property now,” says AEM General Manager Adam Maggs. “Check your drains, clear your