Soaking on way for parts of NZ

Torrential rain is expected to douse the top half of the country tonight and tomorrow as a spring front moves through.

Most exposed to this torrential rain will be Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki and Kapiti, WeatherWatch.co.nz said.

Rainfall rates may be extremely high for a time in localised thundery downpours, the website said.

"This could lead to flash flooding and surface flooding, similar to what we saw in Wellington and the lower North Island last night."

The most extreme weather would be localised areas and the risk zone was from the upper South Island to the top of the North Island, mainly north western facing areas.

Thunderstorms may produce cloud to ground strikes, as we saw in Wellington last night.

WeatherWatch.co.nz advised people to remain indoors during thunderstorms.

"Globally lightning kills more people than any other severe weather, and while the numbers of lightning strikes on humans in New Zealand is very low this could be partially attributed to messages...making it to the public beforehand."

 

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