North Island

WeatherWatch.co.nz reader Craig Armstrong (YouTube user zl2cwa) sent us this great shot of a lightning strike over New Plymouth this morning.

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Thunder and hail continues to affect northern and western parts of the North Island with a large hail shower hitting Tauranga and surrounding regions early this afternoon.

So far today the Lightning Tracker at WeatherWatch.co.nz has detected over 5100 strikes with reports of loud thunder in Taranaki, Matamata, Auckland and Northland today.

More heavy showers are being predicted by WeatherWatch.co.nz this afternoon mainly about Auckland, Waikato, Northland, Taranaki and Bay of Plenty however WeatherWatch believes the risk of thunderstorms is now easing west of the Kaimai Ranges.

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NZHerald.co.nz: Residents on Waiheke Island yesterday woke to muddy terrain and blocked roads - as dozens of slips occurred after heavy rains battered the island.

A huge downpour on Wednesday night led to about 100 slips around the island, putting at least one house in Surfdale at risk.

Not all of us would be awake at 6:44am to see this stunning sight but resident WeatherWatch.co.nz photographic contributor Zelda Wynn was.

This beautiful red sky was captured on camera over Mt Albert Wednesday morning.  Red sky in the morning often indicates rough weather on the way.

The eastern Bay of Plenty is again in the firing line for more heavy rain as yet another low pressure system moves in from the Tasman Sea.

Heavy rain is likely to move in from the north west, building up against the eastern ranges later on Wednesday and into Thursday reports WeatherWatch.co.nz.

Do not be fooled by the presence of fine yellow pollen in Auckland’s stormwater gutters and waterways. It may look like industrial or chemical pollution but it is harmless.

Auckland Regional Council’s (ARC) Pollution Hotline has recently received an influx of calls related to pollen.

The yellow dust that looks like sulphur has been accumulating in some of the region’s waterways, causing quite a stir amongst local residents.

Fears of further flooding this weekend look less likely today as a new rain band develops out in the Tasman Sea.

WeatherWatch.co.nz says it was always going to be a faster moving front but now it's looking as though it will move through fairly fast - meaning rain won't linger long enough to cause major flooding problems.

Blustery winds, heavy showers, hail and thunderstorms have affected those living in the western North Island but conditions are going to ease...but not until Thursday.

WeatherWatch.co.nz says westerly winds are near gale about exposed parts of the Far North and the Hauraki Gulf with gusts reaching 70 to 90km/h.

The threat of more heavy rain remains in place for the eastern Bay of Plenty, still trying to clean up and access damage from the weekend's deluge.

WeatherWatch.co.nz and the crown forecaster are both cautiously watching computer models which are predicting another belt of heavy rain on Friday or Saturday.

Unstable weather conditions will produce thunderstorms right along the west coast of the North Island today. 

As far inland as Central Plateau and as far north as Northland.  Thunderstorms are also possible about the Nelson region.

The crown forecaster has placed a number of regions in their Severe Thunderstorm Outlook, which you'll see in their maps below.