More thunderstorms are tonight moving in to western parts of the North Island and the upper South Island.

This follows a relative calm afternoon for many after a solid band of heavy rain and thunderstorms moved over many regions around noon today.

That band is now moving over eastern Bay of Plenty and East Cape.

Now aggressive but smaller showers are building up in the Tasman Sea and should start to make landfall in the coming hours along the west coast, including Auckland.

Lightning should be visible for many in northern and western parts of the North Island tonight and the upper South Island. 

WeatherWatch.co.nz says lightning should be visible in the western and eastern skies.

We’ll update again later this evening.