Lightning strikes, hail hit Auckland, Northland as weather worsens

Thunderstorms are rolling in to Auckland with lightning striking across the city and rain expected to get heavier.

Lightning strikes were recorded across the central city, North Shore and Whangaparoa.

It's hailing at Pakuranga and lightning has been seen in Remuera, Penrose, Tamaki and Westfield, MetService reports.

Many strikes have been seen toward Whangaparaoa.

During the next few hours, heavy rain across west and north Waikato could cause ponding of water on roads, MetService said.

Lightning has also been spotted near Te Awamutu.

Earlier parts of Northland were hit by thunderstorms and hail of up to 2cm in diameter earlier today, MetService said.

Several lightning strikes observed across the North Shore at 1:15pm -- Rosedale, Albany & another near Chatswood ⚡ pic.twitter.com/KqfHcKCJ3L

— NIWA Weather (@NiwaWeather) August 19, 2017

"There are certainly some decent thunderstorms and people have been seeing lightning and hearing thunder all night in Northland," said meteorologist Claire Flynn.

These were bringing hail of 1-2cm in diameter to parts of the region.

"We're also expecting intense, heavy rain as those thunderstorms move over, but that will only be brief," she said.

The weather system was moving south towards Auckland, where it would likely arrive later this afternoon.

"It's possible Auckland could see the same, with that 1-2cm hail."

However, the thunderstorms were very localised so while some areas may get drenched others could remain relatively calm.

For the remainder of the North Island there was a small chance people could see some thunder, but the South Island was expected to remain relatively dry except for the north with some scattered rain.

Sunday was looking like another rainy day for the North Island, with a chance of thunderstorms for the East Cape.

There were also severe weather wind watches out for the south of the North Island and the north of the South Island during Sunday and Monday morning.

It would also be wet day for most people on the east of the South Island, with heavy showers also possible for the Kaikoura coast.

On Monday, most of the North Island would see scattered rain, becoming fine in the west. The South Island was forecast to have fine weather in the west and south with a few showers about Golden Bay, Flynn said.