Severe thunderstorms hit Auckland as heavy rain sweeps south

Auckland is facing a burst of severe weather as thunderstorms and torrential rain move south from Northland, just as voters head into the final hours of the election.

MetService issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Kaipara and parts of Auckland at about 3pm on Friday after radar detected severe thunderstorms moving towards the southeast.

The warning covers Auckland City, Waitākere, Franklin, Rodney, the Gulf and Albany.

MetService says the storms are expected to bring torrential rain, which can cause surface and flash flooding around streams, gullies and urban areas.

Driving conditions could also become extremely hazardous.

The warning comes after a band of heavy rain moved across the Far North earlier on Friday.

Heavy rain sweeps across Northland, with some areas recording more than 30mm in an hour. Photo/Metservice

But while the rain has brought a serious weather risk further south, it has been welcomed in parts of Northland after an unusually dry spring.

Kaitāia fire chief Craig Rogers told RNZ the rain had caused no significant flooding in the area so far.

“We've had a good bit of warm rain, with thunder mixed in. It's not enough but the farmers will be happy.”

A severe thunderstorm watch is in place across Northland and Auckland, with more unsettled weather expected on Saturday. Photo/Metservice

Rogers said the heaviest rain passed through around 1pm before easing to showers.

He was even able to return to his golf game after taking shelter from the weather. “We just sat it out,” he said.

MetService radar showed the rain band moving south over Northland around 2pm, with particularly heavy falls over Doubtless Bay, inland from the Bay of Islands and around Kaipara Harbour.

Northland Regional Council data recorded the heaviest rainfall so far at Pawarenga in North Hokianga, where 30mm fell in an hour to 1pm.

Heavy rain was also reported around Hakaru near Kaiwaka and the Pouto Peninsula, both in the Kaipara District.

A severe thunderstorm watch remains in place for all of Northland and Auckland until 9pm Friday, with another watch running from midnight until 11am on Saturday.

The Saturday watch also covers Aotea-Great Barrier Island, Coromandel Peninsula, Waikato, Waitomo, Taumarunui, Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, Taupō and Taranaki.

With the final hours of voting underway, people travelling to polling places in affected areas are being urged to keep an eye on the latest weather warnings and take care on the roads.

MetService says severe weather warnings can change as conditions develop.

Polling places open from 9am tomorrow with voters deciding which parties will have the numbers to shape the next three years. The polls close at 7pm.