As thunderstorms hit the Coromandel Peninsula and Eastern Bay of Plenty today, a warning that they could be heading to the Bay of Plenty has been issued.
MetService forecaster Melissa Roux said lightning had been hitting the Coromandel and Eastern Bay at midday.
"There is a moderate risk of thunderstorms this afternoon and evening in much of the Bay of Plenty," she said.
A MetService statement said "there is an elevated risk of thunderstorms this afternoon and early evening for inland areas from Bay of Plenty to the Hawkes Bay ranges and across to Taranaki, also in northwest Nelson, Buller and northern Westland.
"Any thunderstorms that occur will bring locally heavy rain (with rates 10-20mm/hr)and hail (reaching 10-15mm in diameter)."
