!BREAKING WEATHER NEWS

A major thunderstorm is moving through the upper North Island between Taupo and Tauranga, including southern and eastern Waikato .

Head weather analyst Philip Duncan says it’s severe thunderstorm creating hundreds of lightning flashes in the last 60 minutes. 

“If you live between Tokoroa and Tauranga and Matamata to Te Puke torrential rain and severe hail are possible over the next couple of hours”.

Mr Duncan says a thunderstorm like this can be deadly and people in the affected areas should remain indoors if they see lightning or hear thunder nearby.

Downpours may be heavy enough to cause flash flooding and motorists driving on State Highway 1 between Taupo and Tirau and also the road over the Kaimai’s should take extreme care.

“With conditions like this tornadoes are also possible” says Duncan.

The thunderstorms and torrential rain are slowly moving north east from the Lake Taupo area and should ease after dusk.