Weather: Coromandel Peninsula gets 500 lightning strikes — heavy rain warning issued

Five hundred lightning strikes have been detected near the Coromandel Peninsula since midnight as a heavy rain warning remains in place for the region.

MetService said its data revealed most strikes were recorded as moderate, between 90m and 120m off the ground.

A tree has reportedly fallen in the Coromandel district on the top of Kūaotunu hill, according to the local council. It’s currently blocking the southbound lane on State Highway 25.

Meanwhile, Colville Road is impassable between Amodeo Bay and Papa Aroha due to a slip.

A orange heavy rain warning is in place until 3pm today with 30 to 60 mm of rain expected in addition to what has already fallen, with the largest amounts likely about the ranges, MetService said.

MetService meteorologist Andrew James said there had been a “decent dose” of rain in the past 24 hours.

In the past 12 hours, there was 35mm of rain at the Pinnacles and 47mm at Castle Rock. In the past 24 hours, there was 92mm of rain at Queen’s Head and 50mm at Golden Cross.

Further east, Waihī had 94mm of rain while Waihī Beach had 44mm in the past 24 hours.

Twenty-eight millimetres was recorded at Tauranga Airport and 5mm at Rotorua and Whakatāne airports.

James said the ranges had sheltered the Bay of Plenty compared with the Coromandel, which got the weather straight off the sea.

He said there were no warnings or watches in place for the Bay of Plenty, but residents could expect rain, heavy at times, north of Tauranga with possible thunderstorms.

Showers would gradually ease with strong southeasterly winds throughout the day across the region.