A few rumbles of thunder have already been heard across some parts of the North Island early this morning and this afternoon that risk increases a little further.

The risk for thunder is widespread, covering much of the North Island, but only a very slight risk remains for the upper South Island.

WeatherWatch.co.nz says while the risk is widespread the number of thunderstorms is not likely to be, with most thunder isolated within showers that either move in from the Tasman Sea this afternoon, or develop in afternoon showers that form overland.  These showers could be briefly intense and cause localised flash and surface flooding due to the nature of the showers and their expected slow movement says WeatherWatch.co.nz.

Yesterday government forecaster Metservice issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Marlborough as an intense thunderstorm tracked just east of Blenheim.  Today they say that risk for potential severe thunderstorms shifts northwards around the central lower North Island – roughly between Lake Taupo, Levin and Masterton due to afternoon heating.

New Zealand’s only free and live Lightning Tracker, which can be viewed here, has been fairly quiet so far today detecting only a handful of lightning strikes around the North Island.

– Homepage image / File, Simon Williams

– WeatherWatch.co.nz