Severe thunderstorm watch issued for Bay of Plenty and Rotorua

Bay of Plenty Times

25 Dec, 2025 08:07 PM2 mins to read

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Thunderstorms were forecast to roll in across the region later this afternoon. Photo / Glenn Taylor

A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for several regions across the upper North Island today, including Bay of Plenty, Rotorua and Coromandel Peninsula.

MetService forecasters warn hazardous weather conditions are expected to develop this afternoon and evening.

The watch was in place from 2pm to 8pm on Friday, December
26, and covers Northland, Auckland, Great Barrier Island, the Coromandel Peninsula, the Bay of Plenty, and Rotorua.

According to the advisory, a complex trough embedded in a moist, unstable air mass is moving eastwards across the region.

This system was expected to bring a moderate risk of thunderstorms to the affected areas, along with heavy rain through the afternoon and evening, the MetService said.