An increase in thunderstorm activity is being picked up by the lightening detector at weatherwatch.co.nz tonight.

According to our rain radar the main band of rain is moving in a south-south-east direction with the majority of thunderstorms being picked up between North Taranaki and Northland – Auckland now included.  

The Weather Watch Centre has forecasts for thunderstorms overnight tonight around Taranaki and again tomorrow morning.

There is also the risk of thunderstorms over the top half of the North Island but the Weather Watch Centre expects them to be more isolated and further apart.

The main frontal band should clear Auckland around midnight, moving in a south east direction.  During Saturday the rain band is likely to be replaced by heavy showers.

See the Lightening Detector by clicking here or by using the link on the side of this page.