Severe thunderstorm warning in place

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A weather warning has been issued after severe thunderstorms were detected moving south of Auckland this afternoon.

The MetService weather radar indicates that the thunderstorms will settle in the Franklin district near Pukekohe. They are expected to be accompanied by heavy rains and surface or flash floods.

People in the area are being advised to avoid waterways and seek shelter.

WeatherWatch head analyst Philip Duncan told the Herald last night he had received dozens of reports from the Waikato of lightning strikes every two seconds.

Deluges caused flash flooding in the Waikato, and in one two-hour period, Hamilton firefighters were called out to help the occupants of 13 inundated houses.

Heavy flooding blocked State Highway 1 next to Lake Karapiro around 9pm and forced motorists to take alternative routes.

In his blog today Mr Duncan warned that much of the South Island could also be at risk of severe thunderstorms.

- NZ HERALD ONLINE, ADDITIONAL REPORTING: Vaimoana Tapaleao