Severe weather: Thunderstorms forecast to bring torrential rain and hail

Areas of Rotorua, Waikato, Taupo and Hawke’s Bay are under severe thunderstorm watches.

Hail in Auckland’s North Shore. Photo / Supplied

Locals are asked to prepare. The National Emergency Management Agency advises that as storms approach you should:

– Take shelter, preferably indoors away from windows;- Avoid sheltering under trees, if outside;

– Get back to land, if outdoors on the water;

– Move cars under cover or away from trees;

🟧 ⛈️A Severe thunderstorm Warning is out for CLARKS BEACH, PUKEKOHE, PATUMAHOE, GLENBROOK, KINGSEAT, DRURY and ARARIMU.

‼️Impacts: flash flooding about streams, gullies and urban areas, and make driving conditions extremely hazardous.

Details here https://t.co/GeH6tLulff… pic.twitter.com/ZWvfiTadE6

— MetService NZ (@MetService) January 3, 2026

– Secure loose objects around your property;

– Check that drains and gutters are clear;

– Be ready to slow down or stop, if driving.

During and after the storm, you should also:

– Beware of fallen trees and power lines;

– Avoid streams and drains as you may be swept away in flash flooding.

Hail in Auckland’s North Shore. Photo / SuppliedA tornado funnel was spotted from Paeroa in the Waikato region. Photo / Chanel Reid

Hawke’s Bay north of Napier is already under a heavy rain warning, with 90mm to 140mm expected, especially in the ranges, and 170mm possible in Wairoa District.

Hailstones the size of coins dropped upon Auckland’s North Shore. Photo / SuppliedHail fell down upon Albany in Auckland’s North Shore around 5.20pm. Photo / Supplied

The 18-hour warning ends at 3am tomorrow, but heavy rain was expected to ease south of the Wairoa District late tonight.

A 22-hour heavy rain warning for Gisborne/Tairāwhiti began at noon today with 110 to 170mm of rain forecast to fall, especially in the ranges.

Hail in Auckland’s North Shore. Photo / SuppliedA tornado funnel was spotted in Whangārei. Photo / Lyn Groenewald

Northland and Auckland were also affected by thunderstorms that crossed the top of the country yesterday afternoon, with a Grey Lynn villa and a Mangawhai home catching fire after being struck by lightning.

Pictures sent to the Herald show hailstones the size of small coins that dropped upon Albany in Auckland’s North Shore around 5.20pm.

The thunderstorms should ease early evening, but rainfall of this intensity could cause surface or flash flooding, slips and hazardous conditions for motorists.