Fog disrupts 41 flights, icy blast to sweep across the country

Author: NZ Herald ,
Publish Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2026, 9:51am

Fog is causing major disruption at Auckland Airport this morning, with more than three dozen domestic flights delayed, cancelled or diverted.

Recent settled weather is expected to give way to rain, possible thunderstorms and even snow as the country moves into the second half of winter.

MetService says the fog isn’t expected to lift until between 10am and midday.

A front moving across the South Island is expected to bring a moderate risk of thunderstorms to Westland, Fiordland and Stewart Island this afternoon.

MetService said thunderstorms could produce heavy downpours of 10 to 25mm/h and wind gusts of up to 90km/h.

Fog restrictions remain in place at Auckland Airport, with 33 regional flights cancelled, six delayed and two diverted as at 9am.

One main trunk domestic flight has been delayed while international flights are unaffected.

Auckland commuters have been advised to take extra care on the roads this morning with fog cloaking the motorway network.

MetService meteorologist Alanah Burrows told the Herald an “extensive” blanket of fog had formed across the city, stretching to the Firth of Thames and into some parts of Hamilton.

She said the fog was linked to moisture drawn in from the northwest.

The weather was expected to become more unsettled tomorrow as an active trough moved east across the country.

MetService meteorologist Maddy Neal told the Herald that a second front moving across Fiordland today would likely bring ”small hail but slightly less intense rain and winds”.

The North Island would be “a mainly fine story” today, Neal said, with morning fog and frost in sheltered places.

Low-confidence heavy rain is possible about Taranaki Maunga, the central North Island high country, the Tararua Range, Buller and Grey, although no heavy rain watches or warnings have been issued.

“Very cold southwesterlies” are then forecast to sweep across the country on Saturday, bringing shivery chills as the trough moves away to the east.

Snowfall is also possible over South Island hills and ranges on Saturday morning, Neal said.

She added that there was low confidence that warning-level rain could continue about the central North Island high country and Taranaki Maunga.

Southwesterlies in Northland and Auckland also ”could reach severe gale”, she said, although the risk remained low.

Conditions are expected to begin easing from Sunday as a low and associated front moves across the North Island while high pressure builds over the South Island.

MetService’s outlook shows a minimal risk of severe weather by the end of the weekend.