Watch: Lightning strike over Wellington. Video / Nick James / Supplied
There are reports of flooding in Wellington tonight after heavy rain and thunderstorms battered the Capital.
Earlier today, MetService issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch that heavy rain and isolated thunderstorms were set to hit parts of Northland, Auckland and Wellington tonight. However, those warnings have since been lifted.
MetService said there could be downpours of 25 to 40mm/hr to localised areas which may cause surface and/or flash flooding, especially in low-lying areas.
This warning comes a day after the upper North Island was hit by wet and wild weather causing flooding across Auckland and Northland.
On Monday morning, Auckland recorded one of its wettest hours on record as a major thunder and lightning storm caused widespread flooding and chaos across the city and northern regions.
Between 8am and 9am, Auckland's Albany weather station recorded its wettest hour - 76.88mm - on record, said Niwa. "This seems likely to become the wettest hour across the Auckland region on record, but we'll need to scour the record books!"
More than 4000 lightning strikes were recorded in one hour - with 700 in just five minutes. Massive thunderclaps and lightning filled Auckland skies from 7am.
Heavy rain is forecast for eastern North Island regions over the coming days 💦
We have a number of Heavy Rain Watches and Warnings for this event, details at: https://t.co/qHyE5zySvx
Meanwhile, on the eastern part of the North Island, orange heavy rain warnings have been issued for Hawke's Bay, Gisborne and the Bay of Plenty.
Some 150 to 230mm of rain was expected to accumulate while localised areas might see more rain. MetService was encouraging residents in these areas to drive to the conditions as surface flooding and slips might happen.
🔶Potentially significant rain event🔶
❗ A band of rain fueled by warm, subtropical air brings the risk for areas of significant flooding in Bay of Plenty and Gisborne from Wednesday.
There is the potential for upgrades to a Red Warning.
