Residents across the North Island are being warned to take care as wild weather sweeps the North and Western parts of the island.
MetService has placed a Severe Thunderstorm Watch in Northland, Whakatane, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, Taihape and Taupo until 9pm tonight and have warned that flash flooding, slips and dangerous road conditions could all eventuate.
The thunderstorms were expected to be accompanied by torrential rain.
Meteorologist Ciaran Doolin said 36mm of rain fell in just one hour between 4pm and 5pm in Northland today, and was expected to continue at a similar strength until later tonight.