Updated 1am — Heavy downpours and exceptionally loud booms of thunder continue to affect parts of Auckland, especially northern areas. The city centre is also being affected. Over 1414 lightning strikes have been detected in the last 60 minutes around the upper North Island, many of them in the very populated Auckland region. 

The air flow has quite a story – coming from as far north as just north of Fiji, then south to the upper North Island of New Zealand. As of 1am Friday this air flow was tracking across Auckland from the Pacific Ocean to the Tasman Sea (NE to SW) and helping generate the sub-tropical downpours (heavy!) and the big booms of thunder. 

The air is caught up in the enormous low out in the Tasman Sea. The air flow from north of Fiji is pulling across Auckland and out into the centre of the low. The western outer edges of this big low are still impacted eastern Australia too!

Shortly before 1am Friday:

Click to see Animated version.

– WeatherWatch.co.nz