Santa may need to bring an umbrella on his present run tonight as thunderstorms are expected to develop across the northern and central North Island on Christmas Eve.
MetService has issued severe thunderstorm watches for Auckland, Hawke’s Bay and Tararua from 1pm to 8pm.
These thunderstorms will be accompanied by heavy rain and produce localised downpours of potentially 25-40mm an hour.
Rainfall of this intensity can cause surface and/or flash flooding, especially in low-lying areas such as streams, rivers, or narrow valleys, and may also lead to slips. Driving conditions will also be hazardous, with heavy rain leading to surface flooding and poor visibility.
MetService said that while thunderstorm activity should cease tonight, there is a further risk of thunderstorms in those same areas on Christmas Day.
An orange heavy rain warning is also in place for Taranaki Maunga until 11am tomorrow morning, with warnings for the Tararua Range until 9am, and the ranges of Westland south of Otira in place until 8am tomorrow.
A heavy rain watch is in place for the Tasman ranges west of Motueka from 2pm today until midnight.
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