MetService is forecasting more wild weather for parts of the North Island today, including thunderstorms, after a night of lightning strikes and heavy rain.
The forecaster said the rain radar was showing "plenty of colour this morning", with lightning activity over the North Island.
It said more than 3500 lightning strikes were recorded to 7am today, with more expected as severe thunderstorms rolled through.
Early this morning, MetService issued a brief severe thunderstorm warning for Taranaki, which was lifted after an hour.
"Very heavy rain may cause surface and/or flash flooding about streams, gullies and urban areas and may make driving conditions extremely hazardous," it said.
"Further severe thunderstorms may affect other parts of the North Island today."
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."
Full watches and warnings list
Heavy Rain Warning
Bay of Plenty including Rotorua, also Gisborne/Tairāwhiti north of Ruatoria and inland ranges – 22 hours from 2am to midnight.
Heavy Rain Watch
Northland – seven hours from 9am to 4pm.
Auckland, Great Barrier Island and Coromandel Peninsula – 12 hours from 10am to 10pm today.
Central North Island areas of Waikato, Waitomo, Taumarunui, Taupō, Taihape and inland Whanganui – 20 hours from 1am to 9pm today.
Taranaki – 26 hours from 1am today to 3am Thursday.
Wairarapa – 24 hours from 6am today to 6am Thursday.
Eastern Wellington – 21 hours from noon today to 9am Thursday.
Strong Wind Watch
Taranaki – 10 hours from 8pm tonight to 6am Thursday.
Eastern Tararua District and Hawke's Bay south of Cape Kidnappers – 12 hours from midnight tonight to noon Thursday.
Horowhenua to Wellington – 12 hours from 6pm tonight to 6am Thursday.
Wairarapa – 12 hours from 9pm tonight to 9am Thursday.
Northland and Auckland, including Great Barrier Island – 10 hours from 10pm tonight to 8am Thursday.
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