[ad_1]
Severe storm watches have been issued for Northland, Auckland and much of the North Island, with possible localized downpours of up to 40 millimeters per hour.
MetService issued new watches just after 11 a.m. Thursday and they are in effect for much of the North Island until 10 p.m.
Clocks cover Northland, Auckland, Great Barrier Island, Coromandel Peninsula, Waikato, Waitomo, Taumarunui, Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, Taupo, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, and Taihape.
Rosa Woods / Stuff
Severe storm warnings were issued for much of the North Island on Thursday (File photo).
MetService said a very humid and unstable northwestern air current spreading over the North Island was to blame.
READ MORE:
* Severe storm watch for parts of Northland and Auckland
* Severe storm watch for the north, including Auckland; possibility of flooding, dangerous driving conditions
It is bringing a broad and moderate risk of thunderstorms for much of the northern and central parts this morning into the evening, said meteorologist Arno Dyason.
Dyason said localized showers of 25-40mm per hour were possible.
Any electrical storms that do occur can also produce localized wind gusts of 90 km per hour and hail 10 to 20 mm in diameter, he said.
This affected Great Barrier Island, the Coromandel Peninsula, Waikato, Waitomo, Taumarunui, Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, Taupo, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, and Taihape.
“Rains of this intensity can cause surface and / or flash flooding, especially in low-lying areas such as streams, rivers or narrow valleys, and can also cause landslides.
“Driving conditions will also be dangerous with surface flooding and poor visibility in heavy rain.”
A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for parts of Auckland just before noon and is in effect until 12:52 p.m.
“At 11:52 am, MetService’s weather radar detected severe thunderstorms near Helensville, Kaukapakapa and Parakai,” he said.
“These severe thunderstorms are moving to the southeast and are expected to be near Auckland, Albany, Dairy Flat and Whangaparaoa at 12:22 pm and near Auckland and Inner Hauraki Gulf at 12:52 pm”
MetService said these storms are expected to be accompanied by torrential rains.
Dyason said there is also a moderate risk of severe thunderstorms for western areas from Northland and Auckland to Taumarunui on Thursday morning and afternoon.
This watch is in place until 5pm, with localized showers of 25-40mm possible.
Other weather alerts and warnings
MetService has also said there is a heavy rain warning for the Westland, South Otira and Fiordland ranges on Friday.
For ranges, this warning is in effect from 4 a.m. Until 11 p.m. M., And 100 to 130 mm of rain is expected.
For Fiordland, this is in place from 1am to 10pm, and 60 to 90mm of rain is expected.
There is also a heavy rain watch for the eastern Bay of Plenty and Gisborne ranges on Thursday.
This is the same for the headwaters of Canterbury from Arthurs Pass southward and the headwaters of Otago.
MetService also issued a high wind watch for Canterbury High Country on Friday, Southern Lakes and Fiordland and Southland west of Athol to Riverton.
Thursday’s thunderstorms aren’t the first to hit the country this week.
A severe storm watch was implemented on Monday for parts of Auckland and Northland.
On Wednesday, the upper North Island was at risk of severe thunderstorms, with downpours and hail, through Wednesday afternoon and into the evening.
