Downpours forecast for Auckland today

Heavy rain is forecast for later today in Auckland.

Auckland could be hit with surface flooding today as a wet band crosses the country.

It's calm in the city this morning and as the cloud increases their a front is developing off the west coast, whipping up thunder storms.

Weatherwatch's lighting tracker has detected 27 lightning flashes in the past hour, mostly off the coast between Taranaki and Northland.

Auckland's rain radar. Photo / MetService

The wet weather could reach Auckland between 10am and 3pm, bringing heavy falls.

"We don't anticipate many issues in Auckland, but there is a chance of minor localised surface flooding in the heaviest downpours, especially on our highways," a Weatherwatch statement today said.

Tomorrow it's mostly dry with a few showers and south-westerly winds and Auckland is in store for a fine Friday and Saturday.