Weather: Lightning ‘Huge Cluster’ Pings Over North Island

More than 1,600 lightning strikes struck the country in just two hours this afternoon, and MetService is warning of many more to come when thunderstorms strike.

MetService recorded 1,686 lightning strikes over two hours to 3pm today, including a “huge cluster” near Dannevirke.

MetService meteorologist Tuporo Marsters expects more attacks this afternoon and evening.

“She’s climbing. Most of them go through the middle of the North Island, and the Canterbury region, near Timaru, has had a beam of sparks going off, and the interior of Dunedin.”

There is a severe storm watch until 10pm for much of the North Island, stretching from the far north through Hamilton, through Hawke’s Bay, and into Masterton.

MetService has also issued a severe storm warning for Timaru and Waimate just after 3.30pm.

The storms are moving eastward and will be located near Timaru, St Andrews, Pareora and offshore east of Timaru at 4.07pm

The storms are expected to bring more torrential rain and hail.

A similar advisory is maintained for the Canterbury and High Country Plains, North Otago and Central Otago, as well as for Dunedin and Clutha.

Sandbag stations opened in Dunedin yesterday as a result of flooding.

During Saturday night, Middlemarch residents were advised not to flush their toilets and to avoid drinking water from the piercings, as it would likely be contaminated.

Middlemarch residents were again asked today not to flush the toilets after a
Lightning cut off power to the area around 2.30pm, meaning the city’s sewer system will not be able to operate efficiently.

“With the rain falling back into the area, there is a risk of sewage flooding,” Dunedin City Council said.

Slipping and flooding closed several stretches of state highways today, including part of SH2 in the Bay of Plenty, where the Waimana Gorge road between Kutarere and Tanetua closed at 4 p.m.

Other key local roads in the area are also closed due to flooding and there is no viable detour, NZTA said.

SH2 through Waioeka Gorge south of Opotiki has recently reopened, however caution is advised as heavy rains continue and the road may need to be closed again.

SH83 between Aviemore and Otematata in Canterbury will be closed until January 10 due to flooding.

“There is a detour route available and suitable for all vehicles,” said an NZTA spokesperson.

Heading into tomorrow, parts of the North Island will face a third day of bad weather, Marsters said.

“We have a moderate risk from the Bay of Plenty to Gisborne, including the Hawke’s Bay region, of thunderstorms.

“It is not as serious as today, but there is a risk.”

A respite from the humid weather is expected Tuesday across most of the North Island and the upper South Island, but it’s a different story for those in other parts of the South.

“We can enjoy really nice weather over most of the North Island and the top of the South Island, but it’s just the bottom again. We have rain symbols from Fiordland to Invercargill,” he said.

“In the southwest of the South Island, Fiordland and even Invercargill, we have another rain system that affects those guys.”