UPDATED 5:40pm — WeatherWatch.co.nz forecasters say another surge of rough weather is currently heading up the North Island and could again bring localised gales, hail and thunderstorms.

As of 5:30pm a southerly change had already hit Wellington bringing some thunder and hail just 48 hours since a dramatic hail storm turned the city white.

Meanwhile heavy squally showers, some with thunder, are now moving in to Wairarapa while on the west coast Auckland, Waikato and Northland are next in the firing line.

Head weather analyst Philip Duncan says while the windy westerlies are likely to continue for some time we are roughly in a 48 hour pattern.  “We’re basically seeing a surge of gales, hail and squalls every 48 hours.  We had it in Wellington on Tuesday, we’re having it again today and the next surge is predicted this Saturday and again on Monday”.

Track the thunderstorms as they head north with the free and live Lightning Tracker

Philip Duncan says the westerly winds track all the way from south east of Madagascar to New Zealand and beyond. 

“Within these westerlies there are numerous lows and fronts.  They’re all fast moving but quite vigorous, bringing short, sharp thunderstorms and squalls every couple of days”.

Squally showers could produced localised gales with WeatherWatch.co.nz saying a low risk remains for isolated weak tornadoes around coastal New Zealand as this surge comes through and again this weekend. 

– Homepage image / File, Colin Krippner

– WeatherWatch.co.nz