KEY POINTS:
A flash lightning storm brought down trees, powerlines and lifted roofs across the Auckland region this morning.
TRN's weather analyst, Philip Duncan, says much of the damage was a result of a thunderburst which broke out at 9am. It brought more than 500 lightning strikes, mostly in South Auckland, in the space of an hour.
The cloudburst is moving into the eastern Waikato and is expected to lessen in intensity.
Mr Duncan says there have been around 1,000 lightning strikes in other areas of the North Island this morning, mostly in coastal areas and western parts of Northland. More wintry weather is expected over the North Island this afternoon. Most of the South Island is relatively sheltered from the storm.
- NEWSTALK ZB
