Severe gales, torrential rain and thunderstorms are all in the national forecast Tuesday as an early spring storm moves in.

Over a dozen severe weather warnings have been issued for both islands with heavy rain in the west heading north today and severe gales developing tonight in the east between Canterbury and southern Hawkes Bay.

Behind the main rain band thunderstorms are also likely – developing along the West Coast today and spreading in to the North Island overnight tonight.  WeatherWatch.co.nz believes the unstable weather could produce a few tornadoes in coastal areas of the west from Fiordland to Taranaki.

The live and free Lightning Tracker at the Weather Watch Centre began detecting thunderstorms offshore last night.  Head weather analyst Philip Duncan says the next 24 hours will be pretty rough for some.  “Basically the lower two thirds of the country will be most exposed to the rain and wind.  Thunderstorms may also reach as far north as Auckland tomorrow…we’ll have a better understanding as today progresses”.

Mr Duncan says August has been incredibly quiet so far and this next system is even more proof that the spring weather pattern has started earlier this year.

To see all the current weather warnings click here.