MetService has issued 18 severe rain warnings across the country.
Thousands of lightning strikes have been recorded in Fiordland and Westland this morning.
Heavy rain is expected to fall over western parts of the South Island and for the Taranaki, Tararua and Wellington regions through to Wednesday.
Weatherwatch.co.nz head weather analyst Philip Duncan says raining warnings have also been put out for some western parts of the North Island. He says there is a high risk of severe thunderstorms and damaging tornadoes.
- NEWSTALK ZB
Severe rain warnings issued across NZ
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