Storms set scene for taste of the tropics

Campers at the Mt Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park were among those who got a soaking yesterday. Photo / Alan Gibson

As the North Island faces the extremes of both drought and thunderstorms, forecasters say the unsettled conditions could mark a turning point for our summer weather.

After storms battered the Waikato and King Country early yesterday MetService took the rare step of declaring all of New Zealand at risk of thunderstorms.

Nearly 700 lightning bolts struck the North Island within an hour and heavy storms were closing in on Auckland last night.

Today MetService issued a severe weather watch for parts of the lower North Island.

Forecaster Paul Mallinson said a broad area of low pressure off the Hawke's Bay and Gisborne coasts would direct a band of southerly rain on to south Wairarapa and the Wellington area from tonight.

Heavy falls were possible, especially around the coastal hills until tomorrow afternoon.

Mr Mallinson said further west in Wanganui and Northern Manawatu rain would likely become persistent in a strong south to southwest flow early tomorrow morning, and was expected to last until tomorrow night.

He said streams and rivers may rise rapidly and people should keep up to date with latest forecasts.

Further north, yesterday's sprinkling of rain on the arid Northland countryside was not enough to allay fears of drought.

Bone-dry pastures continued to weaken farmers' production and have forced Government intervention.

Forecasters said the eccentric weather marked a crossroads after three months of clear, dry conditions in the North Island, but a respite for troubled livestock and dairy farmers was still weeks away.

Weatherwatch analyst Philip Duncan said the year's first low signalled February could be more tropical, with higher temperatures and more rain.

Most of yesterday's expected heavy rain skirted around Northland and fell in the central North Island, he said.

"It's not looking good for the Far North. The rain was barely enough to water your garden with. They won't be seeing a drought-buster for at least seven to 10 days."

MetService reported that parts of the Far North received between 1mm and 12mm of rain over 12 hours.

Niwa climate scientist James Renwick said that could easily evaporate in the drier weather which is expected to return today.

While the rainfall meant Hawkes Bay and Gisborne were less likely to slip into drought, Northland's soil moisture deficit levels were still twice as dry as usual for January.

The Government has declared a medium-level drought and Agriculture Minister David Carter said yesterday a recovery package offering tax assistance, farm management advice, welfare support and funding for rural support trusts was in place.

Mr Duncan believed the stormy, unpredictable weather would remain over the North Island this morning. The skies would clear up for the weekend, but a chance of showers would remain until Sunday.

The rain created dangerous driving conditions, with Bay of Plenty police urging drivers to show caution on greasy roads.

Within hours of the fresh downpours, one car had rolled between Rotorua and Tauranga and another ended up in a ditch outside Te Puke. No one was injured in either crash.

Blustery westerly winds created huge but messy waves at Piha, west of Auckland, where the ISA world junior surf championships kicked off yesterday.

Organisers predicted the shift to southwesterlies today would improve surfing conditions for the high-profile event, which was expected to draw 10,000 spectators for its final rounds.