A slow moving front and high humidity will today bring a risk of thunderstorms to northern New Zealand.

Government forecaster MetService says there’s a high chance of thunderstorms for Auckland, Hamilton and Whangarei today.

“For Northland and Auckland heavy showers are likely to get going by late morning with a moderate risk of the first thunderstorms occuring before midday.  During the afternoon the front is expected to merge with strong seabreeze convergence lines lying down through Northland, Auckland, Waikato and into the central North Island. There is a moderate to high risk of thunderstorms through the afternoon with some intense rainfalls up to 25mm per hour and small hail” says MetService.

“During the afternoon and evening thunderstorms activity is likely to spread in to Taupo and Bay of Plenty and the ranges of Gisborne and Hawkes Bay, and a few thunderstorms may spread to the Gisborne and Hawkes Bay coastal areas in the evening”.

Over the South Island a southerly change is expected over Canterbury in the afternoon gradually pushing inland during the late afternoon and evening. Some heavy showers are expected to trigger on the Canterbury foothills and Kaikoura area but the risk of thunderstorms is considered low.