Severe thunderstorms are hammering the North Island today, bringing downpours, hail, strong winds and a tornado in Manawatū.
MetService said a severe thunderstorm watch was in place for Northland, Auckland, the Great Barrier Island until 5pm and the Coromandel Peninsula, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Rotorua and Taupō until 6pm.
Thunderstorms could become severe through of the afternoon, with localised downpours of 25 to 40mm/h before activity was expected to ease in the evening.
Video from MetService showed a lightning strike hitting Auckland's 328m tall Sky Tower at around 1pm.
A reported tornado caused damage in the Manawatū region this afternoon, ripping up trees, damaging small structures, and overturning a caravan at a motor park, injuring one person.
Other watches and warnings were issued as the active low pressure system was expected to move onto central and northern parts of the country today, and move to the east of the country on Thursday.
Up to 120mm of rain was expected for Bay of Plenty including Rotorua, Gisborne/Tairawhiti north of Ruatoria and inland ranges, with highest accumulations expected east of Ōpōtiki. An orange heavy rain warning was in place for that area until midnight.
"Peak intensities 15 to 25 mm/h, but possibly 25 to 40 mm/h in localised areas."
The top of the South Island was also set to catch some of the weather, with watches in place for Marlborough, Nelson’s inland ranges, and the Kaikōura coast.
Full watches and warnings list
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Northland, Auckland, Great Barrier Island - 7hrs 30min from 9:30am - 5pm today.
Coromandel Peninsula, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, Taupō - 5hrs from 1pm - 6pm today.
Heavy Rain Warning - Orange
Bay of Plenty including Rotorua, also Gisborne/Tairāwhiti north of Ruatoria – 12hrs from 11am – 11pm Wednesday.
Heavy Rain Watch
Northland – 8hrs from 9am – 5pm Wednesday.
Auckland, Great Barrier Island and Coromandel Peninsula – 11hrs from 10am – 9pm Wednesday.
Central North Island areas of Waikato, Waitomo, Taumarunui, Taupō, Taihape and inland Whanganui – 9hrs from noon – 9pm Wednesday.
Taranaki – 16hrs from 11am Wednesday – 3am Thursday.
Wairarapa – 20hrs from 9am Wednesday – 5am Thursday.
Eastern hills and ranges of Wellington – 18hrs from 9am Wednesday – 3am Thursday.
The Kaikōura coast – 15hrs from 9am – midnight Wednesday.
The Chatham Islands – 20hrs from 2pm Wednesday – 10am Thursday.
Strong Wind Watch
Northland and Auckland, including Great Barrier Island – 10hrs from 9pm Wednesday – 7am Thursday.
Taranaki – 9hrs from 8pm Wednesday – 5am Thursday.
Eastern Tararua District and Hawke’s Bay south of Cape Kidnappers and also Māhia Peninsula – 13hrs from midnight Wednesday – 1pm Thursday.
Horowhenua to Wellington – 13hrs from 4pm Wednesday – 5am Thursday.
Wairarapa – 15hrs from 7pm Wednesday – 10am Thursday.
The ranges of Marlborough and Nelson east of Wakefield, also in the east of the Nelson Lakes – 10hrs from 5pm Wednesday – 3am Thursday.
The Chatham Islands – 12hrs from 6pm Thursday – 6am Friday.
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