It’s been with us for a week now and finally the large winter storm in the Southern Ocean is peaking over New Zealand says WeatherWatch.co.nz.

Head weather analyst Philip Duncan says another rough 48 hours is the on the way for many places but conditions will start to ease on Thursday.  “Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday are probably the peak days of this storm with heavy snow in the south, gales in the east and north and hail, thunder and squalls in the west and north west.”.

Thunderstorms last evening peaked at 3200 strikes an hour and while conditions are quieter today more thunderstorms are predicted this afternoon and evening along western New Zealand as another surge of showers head north.

The West Coast of the South Island has had violent squalls and thunderstorms this morning. 

“In the middle of a thundersquall right now…” wrote Dale Small on WeatherWatch.co.nz’s Facebook page shortly before 10am today from Runanga on the West Coast “…and boy has this one got some teeth, I wouldn’t be surprised if there is some localized damage to add to the last few days carnage already”.

Mr Small says there some damage the other day with a “fence blown to matchsticks down the road, neighbours windows blown in & aesthetic damage around the yard here”.

Up in the North Island and eastern parts of Coromandel were lashed by gales overnight.  “Was a wild night in Whitianga, strong winds, trees down…. sun out now and winds gone but its freezing cold” Shells Gibbs told WeatherWatch.co.nz.

Aucklanders had a taste of the thunderstorms as a dramatic squall line entered the Auckland region around rush hour last night followed by another round later in the evening. 

“The first rumble I near freaked, memories of chch so not nice, thought it was a quake inbound, forgot where I was. phew” Robyn Collins wrote on WeatherWatch.co.nz’s Facebook page.

Despite the dramatic start over West Auckland the thunder clouds quickly fell apart across the city. 

Many lightning lovers were disappointed with the storm as it continued to weaken before reaching their place.  “Still nothing on Waiheke…been a sunny day, but been windy, & have had no rain, no thunder, no lightening….all very quiet really….so much for the storm of the year :-)” wrote Anna Pashby.

Meanwhile WeatherWatch.co.nz has been running a poll asking readers if they have seen lightning or heard thunder where they are.  Despite many thunderstorms only affecting the western coastline lightning has been seen as far as the east coast. 

85% of people who have responded so far have say they have seen or heard a thunderstorm over the past few days at their place.

– Homepage image / File, Franz Krippner

– WeatherWatch.co.nz