Newstalk ZB is reporting a house has this afternoon been hit by lightning in the Bay of Plenty centre of Papamoa.

Tauranga reporter Briony Sowden says firefighters were called after a lightening strike to a house through its aerial.

She says the strike exploded a light switch inside the house and created a huge hole in the roof.

Papamoa was also hit by a hailstorm.

WeatherWatch.co.nz says Papamoa is no stranger to hailstorms and damaging thunderstorms.

Last May hail the size of large marbles fell across the area leaving it so thick the area was a complete whiteout.

See the dramatic photos and story from May last year here.

Waterspouts, tornados and thunderstorms have hit the area a number times in recent years.

WeatherWatch.co.nz says heating from land along with the shape of the coastline and proximity of warm sea waters are all contributing factors.

More heavy showers are forecast this afternoon and evening.