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Thunderstorms, heavy showers, hail and sudden gusts are forecast to hit Auckland during this evening’s rush hour, with lightning possible around the North Island.

MetService meteorologist Ngaire Wotherspoon said a low-pressure system to the west was sending “quite unstable rain and showers” across the top of the country.

“Most places in the North Island are upper south are going to see some showers today. It’s quite rainy in Wellington right now.

“More central areas are looking at the possibility of thunderstorms - there is a moderate risk in the interior of the North Island, Northland, and Auckland,” she said.

Auckland’s forecast high is 16C, with the temperature to drop to 10C overnight. MetService said scattered showers, some heavy, were possible this morning and evening.

Tomorrow should see strong winds in the morning, but these are expected to ease in the afternoon. The forecast high is 17C and the low is 11C.

The rest of the week has partly cloudy and mainly fine conditions forecast and the weekend is expected to reach 19C.

Whangārei has a forecast of thunder and hail today and tomorrow should be fine but windy. Tauranga had a cloudy day forecast with some showers. Gisborne has a heavy rain forecast, but this is expected to clear tonight before returning tomorrow. Napier only had a few showers forecast, remaining mostly cloudy today.

MetService is forecasting heavy rain for Wellington, saying these should ease to isolated showers by the afternoon. Gales were expected in exposed places, also tipped to ease later. The forecast high is 11C and the low is 9C.

A street in Kelburn, Wellington, is inundated this morning after a heavy downpour. Photo / Azaria Howell

Tomorrow, the capital can expect cloudy conditions with rain from the evening. The forecast high is 13C and the low is 7C. Wednesday through Friday will be partly cloudy and showers return for the weekend.

Meanwhile, in the South Island, “most of today is going to be quite a sunny day, but we are looking at quite a decent drop in temperatures down there”, Wotherspoon said.

Christchurch should sit on overnight lows of 3C and high temperatures of 13C until Friday.

MetService forecast a partly cloudy day for the Garden City today, a few showers tomorrow morning, partly cloudy on Wednesday with a chance of a shower, and fine on Thursday.