Severe thunderstorms and heavy downpours are due across the North Island this afternoon and evening - potentially causing treacherous conditions for the rush-hour commute.
MetService has issued severe thunderstorm warnings for Northland, Auckland and Great Barrier Island, Taranaki, Coromandel, and Bay of Plenty and Rotorua, lasting from 1.30pm to 11pm.
Heavy rain warnings are in place for Northland, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Tongariro National Park and Taranaki, while watches have been issued for Waikato, Nelson, Wellington and K膩piti Coast, the Richmond and Byrant Ranges, Auckland and Great Barrier Island, Coromandel and Bay of Plenty.
鈥淩ainfall of this intensity can cause surface and/or flash flooding, especially about low-lying areas such as streams, rivers or narrow valleys, and may also lead to slips,鈥 MetService said.
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- Heavy downpours are forecast for the top of the North Island alongside thunderstorms.
- The wild weather could cause flooding and slips when they hit, MetService says.
- Northland, Auckland, Coromandel, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne and Waikato are all in the firing line, with more bad weather forecast further down the island.
03:28 pm
Major Auckland road flooded
West End Rd at Auckland's Cox's Bay was flooded this afternoon, with water filling the gutter and running across the road.
Video footage showed water about half way up cars' tyres.
03:27 pm
Heavy rain sitting off Northland coast
MetService鈥檚 rain radar shows heavy rain currently off the east coast of Northland, with its current tack forecasting it heading for Great Barrier Island and Coromandel next.
03:27 pm
03:27 pm
Heavy rain sitting off Northland coast
MetService鈥檚 rain radar shows heavy rain currently off the east coast of Northland, with its current tack forecasting it heading for Great Barrier Island and Coromandel next.
03:27 pm
03:26 pm
Motorists warned to expect hazardous driving conditions
Thunderstorms could come with localised downpours that lead to flooding and slips. MetService says motorists should expect hazardous driving conditions throughout.
03:26 pm
03:25 pm
Auckland is under three weather alerts, a heavy rain watch, strong wind watch and severe thunderstorm watch, all tipped to lapse by 8pm.
03:25 pm
Flooding in Westmere
03:07 pm
Severe weather is tipped to hit Auckland and parts of the North Island this afternoon.
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