Thunderstorms have this morning rumbled across Auckland and Northland, cutting power and keeping many people awake as loud booms echoed off the towering rain clouds.  The rain built up early this morning rapidly , as predicted, across the upper North Island.

Reports of torrential rain and very loud thunder have come in to WeatherWatch.co.nz from across Northland and Auckland.

“This weather is dangerous stuff. If you hear thunder stay indoors” says head weather analyst Philip Duncan.  “The lightning tracker at WeatherWatch.co.nz has recorded 1165 strikes in the past hour alone, mostly between Whangarei and Auckland”.

The rain could be heavy enough to cause surface and flash flooding while the storms could produce cloud to ground lightning strikes and localised damaging winds says WeatherWatch.co.nz.

The storm cells are slow moving and could linger for some areas for a few hours.

However, for the most part, many people would just have heavy rain and a few rumbles.

Motorists are advised to be aware of lightning, limited visibility in torrential rain and the chance of surface flooding or slips on roads in NORTHLAND and for surface flooding in AUCKLAND and WAIKATO.

Remain indoors until thunderstorms have passed,  The main frontal system is expected to clear the western North Island in the next 6 to 10 hours.

– WeatherWatch.co.nz