Severe weather hitting Australia will avoid NZ: MetService

The central North Island has a moderate risk of severe thunderstorms. Photo / Warren Buckland

As townships in Australia are evacuated because of heavy downpours, New Zealand's risk of severe weather has reduced.

Torrential rain lashed Victoria last night and residents were warned today would be worse. Despite the weather in Melbourne all flights arriving into the city from New Zealand were expected to arrive on time.

However, New Zealand has no severe weather warnings.

There is still a moderate chance of isolated showers in Auckland and Hamilton this afternoon with highs of around 23C.

The central North Island areas of Waitomo, Taumarunui, Taupo, Taihape and Taranaki have a moderate risk for severe thunderstorms this afternoon but rain is not going to be as heavy as previously expected.

"It will be a similar story as what we have had in the past couple of days," said Kyle Lee of Metservice.

Christchurch and Dunedin will enjoy relatively warm weather with Christchurch nabbing the country's high of 30C and Dunedin reaching 27C.

The December average is for Christchurch is 21C so 30C is high for early December but "not unusual" Lee said.

The weather is a marked improvement on earlier in the week when a storm hit South Auckland and flights into Auckland Airport were delayed.

Refuelling of aircraft was put on hold briefly due to the threat of lightning strikes.​

The thunder on Thursday also hit Coromandel, Waikato and Bay of Plenty and lightning strikes cut power to parts of Rotorua.