Alerts issued as thunderstorms with tornado and flood threat to lash North Island

From Thursday, 6pm to 6.30am today, 6200 lightning strikes had been recorded over the Wellington, Nelson and Tasman areas, MetService said.

Further severe weather is set to hit the North Island today, as forecasters warn of thunderstorms, damaging wind gusts and a risk of localised tornadoes.

Already in the two hours to 6am, 2500 lightning strikes had been recorded, MetService said.

RNZ reported thousands of homes between Stoke and Takakā lost power before 9pm, but it was gradually restored with lines company Network Tasman’s website showing no unplanned outages by 1am.

One Motueka resident reported “continuous flashes” of lightning last night, having lost power just after 8.30pm, with night turning to day.

Jenna Beaumont snapped lightning streaking across the sky in Blenheim late last night.

Commenters on social media reported huge rumbles of thunder as the sky lit up, with the storms lasting for hours.

The storm put on “quite the show” at Kaiteriteri Beach, north of Motueka, Lani Cammock told the Herald.

“Our holiday home was being lit up so much it was like being at a rave with the thunder being the drum and bass.”

Lightning striking near Lani Cammock’s holiday home at Kaiteriteri Beach near Motueka late on June 5.

Kerry Sorensen-Tyrer, who was in Picton for her father-in-law’s 80th birthday, stayed up for an hour to watch intense lightning strikes hit Waikawa Bay.

“The storm was incredible, so intense and we watched it for over an hour.

“It was so impressive.”

MetService meteorologist John Law told Ryan Bridge TODAY more unsettled weather was on its way.

“Last night there was a lot of activity on the western coast of the South Island and we can expect that to continue as we head through the rest of the day, more thunderstorms to come.

“Even for the likes of Auckland, Northland, the Coromandel could find one or two severe thunderstorms this afternoon … thunderstorms act like an extra volume switch giving an extra ‘oomph’ to the rainfall – some heavy bursts of rainfall and some strong gusty winds in the mix – and of course some flashes of thunder and lightning.”

Meanwhile, Wellington was forecast to receive 26 hours of rain from about midnight, while orange heavy rain warnings remained in place for Taranaki, eastern Bay of Plenty and the Tararua Range.

Earlier, MetService meteorologist Katie Lyons said a rain band moving in from the west was expected to bring “prolonged periods of rain” as it tracked east across the country.

Small tornadoes are possible in the central and upper North Island from midday tomorrow. Image / MetService

Heavy rain watches were in place for western Bay of Plenty, central parts of the North Island including Waitomo, Taumaranui, and Horowhenua and top parts of the South Island.

A strong wind watch is in place for Taranaki.

🌧️💨Weathierest in the (north)West

(yes not a word, but you get the gist)

🌧️A rainband moves in from the Tasman, sweeping eastwards across Aotearoa New Zealand over the next couple of days bringing some areas of heavy rain.

⛈️As this band passes, some strong gusts can be… pic.twitter.com/mAEcmvw1hF

— MetService NZ (@MetService) June 4, 2026

Lyons urged people in affected areas to prepare for the weather.

“The usual stuff of making sure your drains are clear, that’ll always help for things to clear away, as well as if you know that you’re in a flood prone area … it’s always good to have a plan, particularly in these orange heavy rain warning areas.

“Keep an eye out and watch as the conditions change.”