There’s no real change in the forecast this weekend with morning cloud and isolated afternoon cloud build ups that could produce heavy downpours and thunderstorms, some severe.

Yesterday a thunderstorm outbreak rapidly developed in eastern Bay of Plenty then dramatically tracked towards Rotorua and Tauranga and the Kaimai Ranges will others tracked across Waikato including Cambridge and Hamilton.

Slight shifts in wind directions today means they will likely form in slightly different areas.

Highest risk areas are the areas of ‘blue blobs’ in the map below and mid to late afternoon is usually when they develop, easing by evening.

– Image / 4pm Saturday, Weathermap.co.nz

– WeatherWatch.co.nz