UPDATED 1:15pm — Daytime thunderstorms are continuing to pop up across Auckland after a mainly calm and sunny start to the day.

There are a few cells but the main one we’re focused on this hour is the one around South Auckland. Significant hail and thunder is being reported from under the storm, which is near Auckland Airport and may impact some flights this afternoon.

The downpour to the north remains intense with thunder, but is now well north of Auckland City.

Light opposing winds from both the eastern and western coastlines helped fuel these big downpours and thunderstorms today (and may again on Wednesday and Thursday across the upper North Island). 

Forked lightning from cloud to ground has been observed – this is the most dangerous and people are advised to STAY INDOORS if you can hear thunder roars. Globally, lightning kills and injures more people than any other form of weather.

Earlier this morning WeatherWatch.co.nz issued a travel advisory for motorists in Auckland telling them to watch for sudden downpours, hail, thunder and even surface flooding.

With calm conditions and daytime heating only just arriving now we expect further thunderstorms, hail and downpours today in the Auckland region, but they will be drifting around a bit with entire suburbs completely dry today, missing out on the more dramatic weather.

WeatherWatch.co.nz has detected a couple of hundred lightning strikes in northern New Zealand over the past couple of hours.

All downpours will ease this evening.

VIEW THE LIVE AND FREE LIGHTNING TRACKER(S) HERE

– 1pm Rain Radar shows the main area of concern indicated by the red marker. Radar 100% owned and funded by the NZ Government/NZ Taxpayer. Infographic by WeatherWatch.co.nz

– WeatherWatch.co.nz