Lightning bolts lit up the sky over Nelson overnight as a thunderstorm rumbled over the region.
It came as MetService issued several weather warnings for parts of the central North Island, Wellington, and Tasman.
A rain band was forecast to move in from the Tasman Sea, sweeping east across the country.
MetService said that as the band passed, strong gusts and possible thunderstorms were expected.
Footage sent by Nelson residents to 1News showed bolts of lightning streak across the sky.
MetService recorded around 6200 lightning strikes between 6pm and 6.30am in Nelson, Tasman and Wellington, meteorologist Ethan Walton-Jones said.
According to an update from Transpower shortly before 9pm, power was knocked out for some residents. An update at 9.45pm said power had been restored, with Network Tasman working to reconnect those affected.
This morning, orange heavy rain warnings were in place for Bay of Plenty east of Whakatāne and Taranaki north of Eltham.
MetService said squally thunderstorms were possible, with heavy showers likely.
Heavy rain watches had been issued for Bay of Plenty from Whakatāne westwards, Taupō, Waitomo, Taumarunui and Tongariro National Park, including the headwaters of the Whanganui River, Horowhenua, Kapiti Coast, Wellington, the Tararua Range, Buller, and the Tasman Ranges.
MetService Meteorologist John Law said there was a risk of thunderstorms for Auckland later today, as well as the western sides of both the North and South Islands.
Meteorologist John Law joined Breakfast to go through what the country could expect this weekend. (Source: 1News)
"And they act a bit like a volume switch, so adding a bit more in the way of oomph to some rain."
He said the storms would likely be "quite sporadic", but would "clear through quite nicely".
Heading into the weekend, Law said he thought it would be an "improving story", still with some heavier showers into tonight and tomorrow, but "generally a bit better".
Sunday would be a "much better, brighter day" with just a few showers in the far south.
Due to heavy rain, the short outfall pipe at Moa Point in Wellington is discharging untreated wastewater into Tarakena Bay.
"It is likely to be travelling around the coastline."
Full list of weather warnings and watches
Heavy Rain Warning – Orange
Bay of Plenty east of Whakatāne – 12 hours from 5pm Friday to 5am Saturday.
Taranaki north of Eltham – 21 hours from midnight Thursday to 9pm Friday.
Heavy Rain Watch
Bay of Plenty from Whakatāne westwards, and Taupō – 11 hours from 2pm Friday to 1am Saturday.
Waitomo, Taumarunui and Tongariro National Park, including the headwaters of the Whanganui River – 20 hours from 3am to 11pm Friday.
Horowhenua, Kapiti Coast, Wellington, and the Tararua Range – 26 hours from midnight Thursday to 2am Saturday.
Buller and the Tasman Ranges – 13 hours from 7am to 8pm Friday.
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