Relief for drought-stricken parts of N Island

There is some relief for drought-stricken parts of the North Island today.

Severe thunderstorms are expected along with heavy downpours of rain, and inland areas will get most of it.

Weather Watch analyst Philip Duncan says hot and humid conditions are causing storms to bubble up, particularly in inland areas where there's afternoon heating.

Eastern parts of Northland, Waikato, the central plateau, inland parts of Taranaki, Manawatu and Whanganui will all get rain today. He says up to 40 millimetres an hour of rain could be possible, with the potential to cause surface and flash flooding.

- Newstalk ZB