Rain is set to dominate the forecast for large parts of the North Island today, with MetService warning of severe thunderstorms and intense downpours from Northland to Hawke's Bay.
MetService has issued multiple severe thunderstorm watches and two heavy rain warnings, saying conditions were "favourable for severe thunderstorms" as a low-pressure system tracked across the island on Saturday and Sunday.
A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for Wairoa lasting until 12.07pm, with thunderstorms expected to be accompanied by "torrential" rain.
From late morning through to tonight, severe thunderstorms were expected to affect the Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty and Rotorua, with downpours reaching 25 to 40 millimetres an hour.
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Similar conditions were forecast to develop this afternoon across Waikato, Waitomo and Taupō, particularly south of Hamilton and north of Tūrangi, before easing in the early evening.
Further north, Auckland and parts of Northland were also in the firing line. Unstable conditions this afternoon could spark severe storms, especially east and south of Kerikeri.
Heavy rain warnings are in place for Gisborne/Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay.
Gisborne could see 110–170mm through to Sunday morning, especially in the ranges, with localised downpours reaching 40mm an hour, while Hawke’s Bay was forecast to get 90–140mm, with up to 170mm possible in the Wairoa District.
Full list of weather warnings and watches
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty, Rotorua – 12 hours from 11am to 11pm Saturday
Waikato, Waitomo, Taupō – 6 hours from 1pm to 7pm Saturday
Northland, Auckland – 6 hours from 1pm to 7pm Saturday
Hawke’s Bay – 7 hours from noon to 7pm Saturday
Heavy Rain Warning – Orange
Gisborne/Tairāwhiti – 22 hours from noon Saturday to 10am Sunday
Hawke’s Bay north of Napier – 18 hours from 9am Saturday to 3am Sunday
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