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MetService is warning of volatile weather for much of the upper North Island today, with severe thunderstorms, heavy rain, hail and the “slight risk of a damaging tornado” forecast to develop from late morning.
A heavy rain watch is in place for Auckland, Great Barrier Island and the Coromandel Peninsula from 10am to 9pm today, December 3.
MetService says periods of heavy rain are expected, with thunderstorms and localised downpours possible.
Rainfall totals may approach warning levels and could exceed them in isolated downpours. Forecasters say there is a moderate chance the watch will be upgraded to a full warning.
A separate heavy rain watch is also in effect for the central North Island, covering Waikato, Waitomo, Taumarunui, Taupō, Taihape and inland Whanganui from 12pm to 9pm today.
While the risk of widespread heavy rain has decreased, thunderstorms are still expected in the afternoon and evening, and there remains a risk of localised warning-level rainfall, particularly across eastern Waikato and eastern Taupō.
MetService has also issued a Severe thunderstorm watch for Northland, Auckland and Great Barrier Island from 9.30am to 5pm today. Unstable showery conditions will move south across the region, bringing a moderate risk of thunderstorms.
Some storms may become severe across eastern Northland during the morning and early afternoon, and then across Auckland around midday and through the afternoon.
Severe storms could produce downpours of 25 to 40 millimetres an hour, hail exceeding 20 millimetres in diameter, wind gusts up to 90 kilometres an hour and a slight chance of a damaging tornado. Thunderstorm activity is expected to ease by evening.
A second Severe thunderstorm watch covers Coromandel Peninsula, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Rotorua and Taupō from 1pm to 6pm today. Showers spreading south during the afternoon are likely to produce thunderstorms, some of which may become severe across Coromandel, eastern Waikato, eastern Taupō and Bay of Plenty.
These storms also carry the risk of intense downpours of 25 to 40 millimetres an hour, large hail, strong wind gusts and a slight chance of a damaging tornado. Activity should ease by early evening.
MetService is urging people across all affected regions to stay up to date with the latest forecasts and be prepared for rapidly changing conditions throughout the day.
