Today has a similar set up to yesterday with MetService predicting a high risk of severe thunderstorms for the third day in a row across the central North Island plus a high risk of standard sized thunderstorms across much of the upper North and South Islands, this time including Auckland city.

“Heavy showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop quickly again over the North Island and in the northeast of the South Island early Wednesday afternoon” says MetService. 

“There is a high risk of slow moving thunderstorms in many inland areas of the North Island lasting into the evening hours. And again, the slowest moving storms will be located over the central North Island where there is a HIGH RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS capable of producing rainfall rates in excess of 40mm per hour. There could also be some large hail with these storms”.

There is also a moderate risk that the area of SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS will extend down the Ruahines and Tararuas, and possibly into western parts of Wairarapa.Rainfall rates in this area could reach into the 25 to 40mm per hour category,with possibly some hail.

Again, WeatherWatch.co.nz will have extensive coverage of the severe thunderstorms with regular breaking news updates throughout the day.