Weather: Hundreds of lightning strikes recorded in BoP, hail in Tauranga

A smattering of hail fell in parts of Tauranga this afternoon, with temperatures set to plummet in Bay of Plenty as snow falls in other parts of the country.

It came after hundreds of lightning strikes were recorded in the region this morning.

Bay of Plenty Times staff reported light hail falling in Pyes Pā and Ohauiti about 3.30pm.

A smattering of hail on one Pyes Pā deck this afternoon.

MetService forecaster John Crouch said he was not surprised by the reports as there had been similar ones from other parts of the North Island today, including Auckland, Waikato, Taranaki and down to Wellington.

”There was also a good burst of rain in Tauranga, with 10 -15 millimetres between 7am and 8am,” he said.

Crouch said the wet weather would ease in the Bay of Plenty overnight, but it would still be “chilly”, with frosts in sheltered places and temperatures expected to drop to zero degrees in Rotorua, 4C in Tauranga and 2C in Whakatāne.

Auckland, the Coromandel and Great Barrier Island were being warned to watch out for severe gales and the Desert Rd was under heavy snowfall watch, he said.

MetService said snow has fallen as low as 200 metres above sea level in some parts of the South Island.

This morning, MetService meteorologist Clare O’Connor said Rotorua and Bay of Plenty had a “bit of a rude wake-up”, with 266 strikes recorded.

“They’re currently ongoing to the east of Whakatāne. No lightning over the Coromandel yet, but it’s looking like they could see some in the afternoon if not before.

“As for a forecast, you’ll have rain on and off for the rest of the day, but overall, it will be easing and eventually clearing up tonight,” O’Connor said.

“There’ll be a swing from strong northwesterly winds to strong and cold southwesterlies this morning — these will also die out this evening.”

She said overnight temperatures would drop to -1C in Rotorua, 4C in Tauranga, 2C in Whakatāne and 1C in Whitianga, with potentially a few snow flurries above 600m.

“It’ll be chilly.”

Desert Rd is also under a road snowfall warning until 9pm tonight.

”Expect 10 to 15cm of snow to settle on the road above 800m, with lesser amounts down to 600m,” MetService said.

MetService has also issued a heavy snow watch for Wairarapa. A strong wind watch for Auckland, the Coromandel and Great Barrier Island is in place until 6pm tonight.