A hail storm similar to the one that hit eastern parts of Auckland this afternoon could be repeated in backyards across the Waikato, Coromandel and Waitomo this evening
A MetService meteorologist said slow moving thunderstorms will likely continue across the upper North Island this evening and could potentially bring the same hail seen in areas like the Auckland suburb of Flat Bush, as well as across the harbour on the North Shore.
"Thunderstorms in summer can often contain hail. So this isn't surprising. But it's the slow speed of the thunderstorms that we are watching and that's what leads to the hail accumulation," said Andy Downs of the MetService.
He said it was common for marble-sized pieces to hail to fall with these conditions, but the thunderstorms stalling over the North island was less so common, which resulted in wintry scenes in the Auckland region.
Heavy rain was also expected in the Hawke's Bay and Gisborne today, with MetService issuing a severe weather warning for those areas.
- nzherald.co.nz / Newstalk ZB
