More than 13,000 lightning strikes and two-centimetre hailstones have been recorded as torrential downpours sweep the North Island.
Most warnings and watches for rain have now been lifted, but a heavy rain warning is in place until 11pm on Wednesday for Bay of Plenty and Gisborne/Tai Rāwhiti, north of Ruatoria and the inland ranges, with thunderstorms and downpours also possible in these areas.
MetService meteorologist Devlin Lynden said the big low has meant messy downpours.
He says 43-millimetres was recorded in an hour in Matamata, which is very heavy for New Zealand.
It comes after thunder and hailstorms hit the Auckland region, with flooding also affecting areas around the city.
MetService was forecasting downpours across the North Island, with possible thunderstorms in some places, and a number of watches and warnings in place.
Radar update⛈️
— MetService NZ (@MetService) December 2, 2025
More heavy showers are building over Northland.
Matamata recorded a whopping 43mm of rain in an hour this morning. pic.twitter.com/mjqOLBfOr2
At 3.22pm, MetService weather radar detected severe thunderstorms near Wellsford, Kaiwaka, South Head, Okahukura Peninsula, Tauhoa and Port Albert.
MetService said the thunderstorms were expected to be accompanied by very heavy rain which could cause surface and/or flash flooding about streams, gullies and urban areas, and make driving conditions extremely hazardous.
Our webcam catching the Sky tower being struck by lightning this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/r1yqCFgZX4
— Hauraki Gulf Weather (@HaurakiGulfWx) December 3, 2025
Meanwhile, there were reports a went through a motor camp in rural Rangitīkei and overturned a caravan. A house bus was also hit by lightning.
Emergency services were called at 12.36pm and one person was taken to Whanganui Hospital.
Meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane said the most notable warning was for Bay of Plenty, with 80 to 120 millimetres of rain set to fall before the end of the day.
"With thunderstorms in the mix we could see shorter periods of more intense rain bringing those possibilities such as flooding as well as slips and difficult driving conditions."
MetService has issued weather warnings and watches for much of the North Island on Wednesday. Photo: Supplied / MetService
Heavy rain watches were in place for a number of places throughout the day including Northland, Auckland, Great Barrier Island and Coromandel Peninsula, Taranaki, Wairarapa, the eastern hills and ranges in Wellington, and central North Island areas including Waikato and inland Whanganui.
There are also strong wind watches in place later on Wednesday for Northland, Auckland, Taranaki, Horowhenua to Wellington, parts of the Tararua and Hawke's Bay districts and Wairarapa.
In the South Island heavy rain watches are in place for the Kaikōura Coast and the Chatham Islands, where a strong wind watch is also in place.
Wind watches are also in place for Marlborough and parts of the Nelson region from 5pm Wednesday until 3am Thursday.
Makgabutlane said things were set to improve from Thursday onwards.
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