Bay of Plenty hit with 54 lightning strikes overnight

There were a dozen lightning strikes over Tauranga overnight. Photo/File

Fifty-four lightning strikes were recorded in the Bay of Plenty overnight.

MetService meteorologist Josh Griffin said of the region's lightning strikes, about a dozen were also recorded in Tauranga.

Griffin said thunder was also reported in the Tauranga area, along with about 6mm of rainfall in a short period of time.

Thunderstorms were not expected around the region tonight, but there was a low risk of heavy rain and a chance of thunder and lightning on Monday.

Griffin said the Bay of Plenty was in for a "mixed-bag" of weather tomorrow.

"There is going to be a period of rain developing tomorrow, some of those could have some brief periods of heavy rainfall and possible thunderstorms specifically about the eastern ranges," he said.

Heavy rainfall would ease towards the evening on Monday, with Tuesday looking partly cloudy with a few showers, Griffin said.

"There will be a lot more settled weather towards the end of the week," he said.

Similar weather was forecasted for Tauranga, with rain developing in the morning.

Griffin said there was a chance rainfall could become heavy with a chance of thunder but would ease by the evening.

"Things are looking better towards mid-week," he said.