The Government Forecaster has issued the following severe thunderstorm outlook for the central North island today.

A cold upper trough should move across the central North Island this afternoon,while a surface trough drifts westwards across the Bay of Plenty at a time of optimum heating. About the ranges of Gisborne and Hawkes Bay and across the Bay of Plenty, and the central North Island high country to eastern Waikato and Taumarunui, there is a high risk of thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening, resulting in localised heavy rain of 15-25mm/hr and hail.

Additionally for the Bay of Plenty, Taupo, the ranges of northern Hawkes Bay and Gisborne,and the northeast of Taihape, there is a moderate threat of SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS in the afternoon and evening, resulting in localised downpours of 30-40mm/hr and producing hail 15-25mm in diameter, or unusually large hail accumulations.
An area of moderate risk of thunderstorms surrounds this area, extending further west over Waikato and Waitomo and down the Ruahine Ranges. Thunderstorms in this area have the potential to bring heavy rain of 15-25mm/hr and hail to localised places.

A lesser thunderstorm risk is expected late morning and during the afternoon for Manawatu, Wanganui and Taranaki as well as in the ranges of Nelson and Marlborough in the South Island.

– MetService