Lightning strikes hit West Coast, front heads northwards

Snow is set to hit eastern Otago at the end of the week. Photo / Nathan McNally

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The Auckland region was hit by a squally cold front during rush hour tonight, bringing high winds and drivign rain, as a band of rough weather heads up the North Island after battering the West Coast earlier.

The South Island's West Coast was peppered by almost 7500 lightning strikes this morning.

Weather Watch reporter Katrina Lowe said the storm cut power in Greymouth for a short time.

"We had flashes every 30 seconds and the thunder was just rumbling and rumbling," Ms Lowe said.

Weather analyst Philip Duncan had warned people in the North Island that with the number of lightning strikes expected, there could be direct hits on buildings, trees and lamp posts.

Meanwhile, the MetService has predicted wind gusts of up to 120km/h could batter the east coast from the Wairarapa to North Canterbury tomorrow morning.

MetService forecaster Ian Miller said the winds would hit exposed hilltops on the Rimutaka Rd, Castle Point and parts of Marlborough and the Kaikoura Coast in the south.

He said people on motorbikes and drivers of high-sided trucks and campervans could face dangerous conditions.

Mr Miller said three active fronts were rolling in and would move up the east coast bringing bursts of heavy rain and thunderstorms.

He said the heavy falls were expected on the West Coast and Nelson and MetService had issued a weather warning to these areas.

Mr Miller said high ground between Taranaki and Lake Taupo was set for a drenching from today until Friday and thunderstorms with wind gusts of up to 110km an hour could also batter the region.

Looking ahead, a cold snap is due to hit Eastern Otago, Fiordland and Southland with snow down to 300m on Friday through to Sunday.

Parts of Canterbury are also set for a freeze with snow down to 500m.

At 4pm, thunderstorm cells were sited over Pukekohe and the Manukau Heads area, just southwest of Auckland.

- NZHERALD STAFF