A looming storm threat persists across parts of the upper North Island as MetService warns of more severe weather today, following a night filled with lightning and heavy rain.
The agency noted that the rain radar showed a swath of intense activity this morning, with lightning detected across the North Island. By 7am, authorities recorded over 3,500 lightning strikes, with more expected as potent thunderstorms move through the region.
Earlier, MetService issued a brief severe thunderstorm warning for Taranaki, which was lifted after about an hour. The warning cautioned that very heavy rainfall could trigger surface or flash flooding in streams, gullies, and urban areas, potentially creating dangerous driving conditions. The service also indicated that additional severe thunderstorms may impact other parts of the North Island today.
Subsequently, severe thunderstorm watches were issued for Northland, Auckland, and Great Barrier Island (9:30am–5:00pm), and for the Coromandel Peninsula, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, and Taupō (1:00pm–6:00pm).
Additional watches and warnings were set as the active low-pressure system is expected to move onto central and northern New Zealand today and drift eastward on Thursday.
Forecasts highlighted rainfall totals of up to 120mm for Bay of Plenty, including Rotorua and Gisborne/Tairāwhiti north of Ruatoria and inland ranges, with the heaviest accumulations anticipated east of Ōpōtiki. An orange heavy rain warning remained in effect for that region until midnight.
Peak rainfall rates were expected to reach 15–25 mm/h, with local bursts potentially hitting 25–40 mm/h.
Comprehensive watches and warnings list
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
- Northland, Auckland, Great Barrier Island — 7 hours 30 minutes from 9:30am to 5:00pm today
- Coromandel Peninsula, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, Taupō — 5 hours from 1:00pm to 6:00pm today
Heavy Rain Warning
- Bay of Plenty (including Rotorua), Gisborne/Tairāwhiti north of Ruatoria and inland ranges — 12 hours from 11:00am to 11:00pm
Heavy Rain Watch
- Northland — 7 hours from 9:00am to 4:00pm
- Auckland, Great Barrier Island, Coromandel Peninsula — 11 hours from 10:00am to 9:00pm today
- Central North Island areas of Waikato, Waitomo, Taumarunui, Taupō, Taihape and inland Whanganui — 9 hours from 12:00pm to 9:00pm today
- Taranaki — 16 hours from 11:00am today to 3:00am Thursday
- Wairarapa — 20 hours from 9:00am today to 5:00am Thursday
- Eastern hills and ranges of Wellington — 18 hours from 9:00am today to 3:00am Thursday
- The Kaikoura Coast — 15 hours from 9:00am to midnight
- The Chatham Islands — 20 hours from 2:00pm Wednesday to 10:00am Thursday
Strong Wind Watch
- Taranaki — 9 hours from 8:00pm tonight to 5:00am Thursday
- Eastern Tararua District and Hawke’s Bay south of Cape Kidnappers — 13 hours from midnight tonight to 1:00pm Thursday
- Horowhenua to Wellington — 13 hours from 4:00pm today to 5:00am Thursday
- Wairarapa — 15 hours from 7:00pm tonight to 10:00am Thursday
- Northland and Auckland, including Great Barrier Island — 10 hours from 9:00pm tonight to 7:00am Thursday
- Marlborough and Nelson east of Wakefield, plus eastern Nelson Lakes region — 10 hours from 5:00pm Wednesday to 3:00am Thursday
- The Chatham Islands — 12 hours from 6:00pm Thursday to 6:00am Friday
These developments come as the active low-pressure system advances toward central and northern regions today and shifts offshore to the east by Thursday, prompting ongoing updates to warnings and watches as the situation evolves.
