New Zealand severe thunderstorm warnings Auckland Waikato, Digi Mart USA News (Auckland, New Zealand): Multiple severe thunderstorm warnings have been issued for areas in and around Auckland late in the afternoon. The most recent warning covers Auckland city, Waikato, Franklin, Rodney and Albany.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand said it had been called to “a couple” of weather-related incidents across Auckland by 5:30 p.m., including a roof collapse and flooding inside a house. Both were in Wairau Valley on the North Shore, and one fire truck was sent to each.
Another warning has also been issued for the Waipa, Waitomo, Ruapehu and Otorohanga areas. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in force for Auckland, the Coromandel Peninsula, Waikato and the Bay of Plenty.
These thunderstorms are expected to bring torrential rain and large hail.
Much of Auckland was drenched in heavy rain and hail late in the afternoon. In Grey Lynn, between Elgin and Northland streets, a billboard came down in strong winds.
It knocked over fencing and lay across the footpath, the cycle lane and the road. Lightning also delayed the kick-off of the Auckland FC versus Phoenix football derby.
In Blenheim, part of the roof outside a Cotton On store collapsed because of rain buildup. No one was injured, and the shop has reopened to customers.
MetService meteorologist Devlin Linden said the severe weather had struck the North Island and parts of the South Island. “Quite a lot of activity along much of the western North Island, right the way from Auckland down to Taranaki and that western flank, but there is also a good amount of activity in other places around the country,” he said.
“These storms are convective storms and are driven by heat throughout the day. It’s expected they’re likely to continue through to early this evening, when things start to cool down.”
Overnight, MetService recorded nearly 2,000 lightning strikes across the top of the North Island, as well as heavy rainfall, with downpours reaching 33.5 mm an hour in the Bay of Plenty. About 1,845 lightning strikes were recorded from midnight.
Fire and Emergency responded to five weather-related callouts overnight, including flooding and reports of fallen trees.
MetService warned of a moderate risk that thunderstorms may become severe across a broad area of the country, from Auckland and the Coromandel Peninsula in the north to inland parts of the South Island north of Tekapo. The watch is already in place for northern areas and takes effect from 1 p.m.
in the south. It also includes the Bay of Plenty, the central high country to Taranaki, Whanganui southward to northern and eastern parts of Wellington, and the Tararua District and Wairarapa.
MetService is scheduled to update the watch at 6 p.m.
Severe thunderstorms could produce localised downpours of 25 to 40 mm an hour, MetService said. Rainfall of this intensity can cause surface and flash flooding, especially in low-lying areas such as streams, rivers and narrow valleys, and may also lead to slips.
Driving conditions would also be hazardous, with surface flooding and poor visibility in heavy rain.
Residents are asked to send pictures and video of any storm damage to iwitness@rnz.co.nz.
