Government forecaster MetService have issued thunderstorm risks and severe thunderstorm risks for parts of the country today and valid up until midnight tonoight.

Biggest risk areas appear to be western and northern parts of the North Island and also eastern areas of the South Island.

Details are outlined below…

There is a moderate risk of thunderstorms over Westland, Buller and Nelson  through the afternoon, which could locally boost rainfall rates up to 25mm per hour and possibly more about the ranges.

There is also a moderate risk of thunderstorms from South Canterbury up to Wairarapa this afternoon and evening associated with the strong southerly change as it heads north. Thunderstorms here could bring hail of 5 to 15mm in diameter,locally heavy rain of 10-25mm/hr and strong wind gusts around 100 km/h. About parts of Canterbury and the Kaikoura Coast, there is an additional moderate risk that one or two thunderstorms may become SEVERE producing damaging wind gusts in excess of 110 km/hr, as well as hail of 10 to 20mm in diameter and possibly a small tornado.

Meanwhile, over the North Island, a trough ahead of the front, together daytime heating and very humid conditions is likely to produce thunderstorms in western areas later this afternoon and early evening extending across to Bay of Plenty tonight. There is a moderate risk of thunderstorms over this broad area,as indicated on the chart, with a lower risk extending into the ranges of Gisborne and Hawkes Bay. Thunderstorms here are likely to produce locally heavy rain up to 25mm per hour and strong wind gusts around 100 km/h. There is a low risk of one or two thunderstorms could become SEVERE in the west from Northland down to the Kapiti Coast producing downpours with rates over 25mm per hour,damaging wind gusts in excess of 110 km/h and possibly a small tornado.