Lightning starts striking stormy North Island skies

Bolts of lightning are illuminating skies above the North Island as thunderstorms start to rumble over the central Plateau and Wellington ranges.

The lower half to the North Island is under a severe thunderstorm watch for the next seven hours with MetService warning a risk of torrential deluges that could cause flash flooding and slips.

Weather Watch has warned motorists in the Hawke's Bay ranges to take care as flash flooding and slips were likely.

NOW: #Motorists driving from #HawkesBay over the ranges (all roads) should take EXTREME CARE due to torrential downpours, surface/flash flooding risks, possible slips & hail also thunderstorms, possibly severe. What a day! pic.twitter.com/kZ0MrN1IN3

— WeatherWatch.co.nz (@WeatherWatchNZ) November 27, 2017

Much of the South Island is also under a threat of thunderstorms for the second day running and predicted to bring hail and rain from the Nelson Ranges down to central Otago, including Roxburgh which was hit by a damaging flash flood less than 24 hours ago.

At lunchtime lightning started cracking above Taihape and the Tararua and Hawke's Bay Ranges.

Thunderstorms already starting to spark up over the central North Island. Here is a look at the latest radar image showing lightning strikes in Taihape, Tararuas and the Hawkes Bay ranges. Keep up to date with latest radar imagery at https://t.co/prKU7O2R01 ^KL pic.twitter.com/hrZF5PUVwP

— MetService (@MetService) November 26, 2017

Successive storms were expected to roll across Taumarunui, Taupo, Taihape, Taranaki, Whanganui Hill Country, Manawatu, Hawke's Bay and Wairarapa until 8.30pm. Some downpours are expected to be so bad up to 40mm of rain could fall in an hour accompanied by large hailstones.

Motorists are being warned to take care driving through deluges with the threat of flash flooding, slips and slick conditions making roads hazardous.

A couple of strokes of ⚡ just observed near Tongariro Natl Park & in the Ruahine Range. #whenthunderroarsheadindoors pic.twitter.com/CId2jyE0or

— NIWA Weather (@NiwaWeather) November 26, 2017

Much of the South Island is under a thunderstorm watch with thunder and lightning expected to rumble across the skies this afternoon and tonight.

In addition to the Severe Thunderstorm Watch for the central and lower North island, Thunderstorms are possible for inland areas elsewhere today. Here's today's thunderstorm risk chart. To view the details of the watch, visit https://t.co/GZIq9Jlbrw ^HM pic.twitter.com/dEy2VH01o3

— MetService (@MetService) November 26, 2017

MetService said unstable conditions over inland parts of the central and lower North Island and South Island were generating thundery activity with scattered heavy showers and isolated thunderstorms likely in many places for the rest of the day.

Weatherwatch.co.nz said thunderstorms were kicking off as daytime heating and converging winds lead to significant inland downpours across New Zealand.

Thunder and lightning was already starting across the centre of the North Island and regions flanking the Tararua Ranges.

The rainstorms were expected to worsen throughout the day with thunderstorms expected to roll over the upper South Island ranges.

Those in the main risk zones were at risk of severe thunderstorms, gusty winds, hail and flash flooding.