New Zealand weather: Aucklanders warned to brace for severe thunderstorms and hail as wild weather sweeps the North Island
The Meteorological Agency warned that thunderstorms are expected to form in northern areas of the North Island on Monday afternoon and continue into the evening, bringing heavy rain and hail.
“However, in the Auckland, Waikato, Coromandel Peninsula and Bay of Plenty areas west of Rotorua, there is a moderate risk of some thunderstorms becoming severe,” MetService said, warning that these areas could see locally heavy rainfall of between 25 to 45 mm. /h.
Areas under a severe thunderstorm watch should expect “very heavy showers” of rain, MetService forecaster Mmathapelo Makgabutlane told Newshub.
“This amount of rain spread out over a few hours probably wouldn’t pose much of a problem, but if compressed into one hour, a short period of time could lead to some potential impacts such as surface flooding or flash flooding and streams and rivers rising very quickly if it occurs.” that”. “They happen to form over these kind of places. So those heavy rains are what we’re monitoring closely,” she added.
She urged people to monitor the forecast as a severe thunderstorm watch could be upgraded to a red warning.
“Even though the conditions and weather are ripe for those severe thunderstorms, not everyone is going to get one. So, even if you’re in that area, don’t be surprised if you don’t necessarily get one today,” Macgabutlan told Newshub.
The North Island’s east coast is also in the firing line with weather warnings and watches in place.
An orange heavy rain warning remains in place for the Gisborne area from Tolaga Bay northwards until 11am on Tuesday with another 120mm of rain expected at peak rates of 10-15mm/hour.
There is also an orange warning in place for the Ruahine Range and the inland ranges of Hawke’s Bay until 2am on Tuesday, but MetService said the heavy rain had currently eased but was expected to become heavy again around midday.
“Between 70 to 90 mm of rain is expected to accumulate. Peak rates are 15 mm per hour, especially this afternoon and early evening,” MetService said.
For areas under an orange heavy rain warning, MetService warned: “Heavy rain may cause streams and rivers to rise rapidly. Surface flooding and slides are also possible and driving conditions may be hazardous.”
Heavy rain watches also remain in effect for Gisborne south of Tolaga Bay until lunchtime on Tuesday, the Wairarapa region from around Carterton northwards, the Tararua region not including the Ruahine Ranges and Hawke’s Bay not including the Inland Ranges until 1am on Tuesday.
