Hundreds of lightning strikes hit the Waikato during first hours of thunderstorm

A total of 290 lightning strikes have hit the upper North Island between Auckland to Taupo in the past two hours.

The strikes come after a Thunderstorm Watch was issued for Auckland, the Coromandel Peninsula, Waikato, the Bay of Plenty and Rotorua from midday today until 9pm.

MetService forecaster Cameron Coutts said the storms have developed down through the Waikato and into Taupo earlier this afternoon and are now drifting south-eastwards, heading towards Rotorua.

North Islanders from Auckland to Taupo are being warned to expect intense rain and thunderstorms until 9pm tonight. Photo / Melissa Munn

Tauranga has currently had a total of 11.8 mm of rainfall today, followed by Auckland with 6.8 mm and Hamilton with 4.2 mm.

"Around the Auckland area has just been a line of showers, there hasn't been any lightning yet," Coutts said.

"The rest of the North Island is pretty well fine, and in the South Island we have a cold front making its way northwards with rain going through north Otago at the moment."

Showers were also taking hold in Southland and up the West Coast, while Canterbury, Nelson and Marlborough remain fine.

Coutts said the thunderstorms were expected to fizzle out by this evening, but showers in the South Island would continue overnight.

A snowfall warning has also been issued for the Crown Range Rd, between Queenstown and Wanaka overnight.

Rotorua Lakes Council is warning residents to check their spouting and drains.

"Rainfall may reach up to 40mm per hour which is predicted to ease gradually by tonight," it posted on Facebook.

"It may pay to check your spouting and drains around your home are clear as expected rainfall can cause flash flooding especially in low-lying areas like streams, rivers and narrow valleys, and may also lead to slips."