Severe Thunderstorm Alerts: North Island's Upper Reaches in the Crosshairs
MetService has issued a warning for more wild weather across the North Island, following a night of intense lightning strikes and heavy rain. The rain radar is showing a vivid display of activity, with over 3500 lightning strikes recorded by 7 am today, and more expected as severe thunderstorms roll through.
The weather alert includes a brief severe thunderstorm warning for Taranaki, which was lifted after an hour. MetService advises that very heavy rain may cause surface and/or flash flooding in streams, gullies, and urban areas, making driving conditions extremely hazardous.
The severe thunderstorm watches have been extended to Northland, Auckland, and Great Barrier Island (9:30 am to 5 pm), as well as the Coromandel Peninsula, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, and Taupō (1 pm to 6 pm).
The active low-pressure system is expected to move across central and northern parts of the country today, shifting to the east on Thursday. This system brings heavy rain, with up to 120 mm expected in Bay of Plenty, including Rotorua, Gisborne/Tairawhiti north of Ruatoria, and inland ranges. The highest accumulations are predicted east of Ōpōtiki, under an orange heavy rain warning until midnight.
The peak intensities are expected to reach 15 to 25 mm/h, but possibly 25 to 40 mm/h in localized areas.
Here's a breakdown of the full watches and warnings list:
- Severe Thunderstorm Watch: Northland, Auckland, Great Barrier Island (9:30 am to 5 pm today).
- Severe Thunderstorm Watch: Coromandel Peninsula, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, Taupō (1 pm to 6 pm today).
- Heavy Rain Warning: Bay of Plenty, including Rotorua, Gisborne/Tairāwhiti north of Ruatoria, and inland ranges (11 am to 11 pm).
- Heavy Rain Watch: Northland (9 am to 4 pm).
- Heavy Rain Watch: Auckland, Great Barrier Island, Coromandel Peninsula (10 am to 9 pm today).
- Heavy Rain Watch: Central North Island areas (noon to 9 pm today).
- Heavy Rain Watch: Taranaki (11 am today to 3 am Thursday).
- Heavy Rain Watch: Wairarapa (9 am today to 5 am Thursday).
- Heavy Rain Watch: Eastern hills and ranges of Wellington (9 am today to 3 am Thursday).
- Heavy Rain Watch: The Kaikoura Coast (9 am to midnight).
- Heavy Rain Watch: The Chatham Islands (2 pm Wednesday to 10 am Thursday).
- Strong Wind Watch: Taranaki (8 pm tonight to 5 am Thursday).
- Strong Wind Watch: Eastern Tararua District and Hawke's Bay south of Cape Kidnappers (midnight tonight to 1 pm Thursday).
- Strong Wind Watch: Horowhenua to Wellington (4 pm today to 5 am Thursday).
- Strong Wind Watch: Wairarapa (7 pm tonight to 10 am Thursday).
- Strong Wind Watch: Northland and Auckland, including Great Barrier Island (9 pm tonight to 7 am Thursday).
- Strong Wind Watch: Marlborough and Nelson east of Wakefield (5 pm Wednesday to 3 am Thursday).
- Strong Wind Watch: The Chatham Islands (6 pm Thursday to 6 am Friday).
These alerts highlight the potential for dangerous weather conditions, and it's crucial to stay informed and take appropriate precautions.
