11,000+ lightning strikes in storm - and it's not over yet

The North Island has experienced 11,323 lightning strikes today and the intense thunderstorm isn't over yet.

Thunderstorms and hail have hit the Eastern Bay of Plenty, causing power outages and small fires.

The weather system is moving north and Hamilton is now experiencing hail, heavy rain and thunder.

At 07:52 pm, MetService weather radar detected severe thunderstorms near Hamilton, Ngaruawahia, Gordonton, Whitikahu and Eureka. These thunderstorms are expected to be accompanied by very heavy rain and damaging wind gusts and MetService warned residents in Waikato, Matamata and Hamilton City to be prepared for the storm.

One Herald reader reported surface flooding on Discovery Dr, Flagstaff, in Hamilton.

MetService said this storm had carried the most lightning strikes recorded in one day this year.

Already more than 10,000 lightning strikes recorded today (11,325 to 7:30pm). The most for a day so far this year and more than twice as many as 3-January (2nd highest). Some storms approaching #Hamilton at the moment. ^AG pic.twitter.com/XKbgwXgQwM

— MetService (@MetService) January 26, 2018

Power outages have been reported in several Rotorua suburbs, including Ngongataha Valley and Tikitere after the storm hit the region earlier tonight.

Nigel Herbert, owner of Tauranga wedding venue Eagle Ridge, said he saw the thunderstorm roll through Ohauiti from his property's vantage point on Ohauiti Rd and lightning caused trees to burst into flames.

"It was a really active thunderstorm, there must have been 20 different lightning bolts. There was really heavy rain as it went through, no wind at all, which was quite unusual."

Herbert said he had seen plenty of thunderstorms pass by the property but this one was "pretty rare".

"It left some damage in its path. My son Tane flew his drone over and looks like an orchard hedge quite badly burnt."

A Fire and Emergency spokesman said the fire service were at the scene of a tree fire on Hereford Rd in Oropi just before 8pm. He believed the tree and surrounding shrubs caught fire as the result of a lightening strike.

Fire and Emergency had also received reports of a second fire, possibly caused by lightening, on Jacks Lane in Oropi.

Earlier, severe thunderstorms hit eastern Bay of Plenty and the Central Plateau.

"We see a lot of weather patterns moving through but nothing quite as spectacular as today's thunderstorms. Lots of lightning and lots of noise," Herbert said.