Power outages, slips and downed trees were reported across the region Monday as a wild winter storm swept across the country.
A strong wind watch remained in place overnight for Rotorua and Bay of Plenty with bands of squally thunderstorms passing over.
However, conditions were expected to ease over the coming week, MetService meteorologist Lewis Ferris said.
A few early showers would clear to fine Tuesday with one or two showers returning in the evening.
Unison spokesman Danny Gough said rural areas in the region had been most affected by power outages with 400 homes in Hamurana losing electricity.
"The weather is playing havoc in our rural communities."
This was due to overhead power lines being struck with flying debris including tree branches. He said other affected areas included Atiamuri and Lake Okataina, however, the number of houses impacted was "not major".
He urged residents to prepare for unplanned outages as wild weather continued and thanked Unison customers for their patience.
"Please bear with us while our guys are out there working in really tough conditions."
More than 300 customers lost power in Waihi, Powerco reported.
State Highway 5 between Dalbeth Rd and Maraeroa Rd reopened about 2.30pm after being closed due to a slip with diversions in place. A brief hailstorm was reported in Rotorua and Tauranga around noon.
A large tree has also come down on Hatupatu Drive in Rotorua. The road will remain closed until crews can safely clear the treefall, a Rotorua Lakes Council spokeswoman said.
A Western Bay of Plenty Council spokeswoman said contractors had been called to a large tree that was down on Allport Rd and a large boulder on Lund Rd.
Trees were also reported down on Youngson Rd, Whirinaki Valley Rd and SH36 on Sunday and on Wharepapa Rd today .
A strong wind watch remains in place for Rotorua, Bay of Plenty and Coromandel until 9pm tonight.
The area may be affected by severe thunderstorms, bringing damaging wind gusts of more than 110km/h and localised tornadoes.
Severe gales are possible again into the afternoon, MetService said.
The highest gust recorded in the region overnight was 92.6km/h at Taupō Airport at 4am while a 83.3 km/h gust was recorded at Whakatane Airport at 5am.
Rotorua had a 76kmph gust between 10am and 11am while Tauranga gusted 65km/h at 5am.
Dozens of weather warnings are in place across the country as the storm sets to intensify and spread.
Showers, some heavy with possible squally thunderstorms and hail, are forecast for Rotorua, Tauranga, Whakatāne and Taupō.
An orange heavy rain warning is also in place for areas west of Taupō.
Ferris said a "pretty decent" line of thunderstorms rolled over the coastal Bay of Plenty between Tauranga and Whakatāne around midday, conditions likely to stay over the remainder of the day.
"The bands of heavy showers with thunderstorms pass across the region with the potential for gusty westerly winds and even some hail in the mix."
Between midnight June 6 and midday today, there were 114,765 lightning strikes recorded over and near the country.
Moving into tomorrow, Ferris said the westerly winds would continue but in general, conditions don't look to be as intense as they are today.
"It sets the scene for the first half of the week - less and less of that wet weather with each day but some quite breezy westerly winds," Ferris said.
"What we've seen is an unsettled period of weather around the country with numerous low-pressure systems sitting south of the country, throwing frontal band after frontal band across the country from the west."
A snowfall warning was in place for the Desert Rd overnight, with 2cm to 6cm expected to settle at the summit. Another 1cm to 2cm of snow may settle around midday today.
MetService meteorologist Tui McInnes said the region would see a trend towards finer weather for a while as things become more settled this week.
"Still cloudy at times with a few showers, but mostly fine weather.
"As we reach the weekend, models are indicating there could be further weather features on the way which could spell some more wet weather, but there's still a reasonable amount of uncertainty around that," McInnes said.
"Temperatures are pretty spot on average for the month during the day, but the night-time temperatures are staying warm relative to the average for June."
Rotorua Lakes Council contractors attended multiple weather-related events on Monday including flooding and tree fall.
Flooding occurred on Phillip Cres, Harold Cres/Wing Place and Whakatau St around midday. Council staff cleared blocked grates in these places and also attended a flooding incident at Mankuka Cres Tennis Courts Carpark at 12.20pm.
About 11.20am, contractors cleared a tree that had fallen across the path on Te Ari Ahi Cycleway.
A 1974 fun lads' golf trip is now an annual tradition titled the 'Okareka Classic'.