Warm humid conditions and sea breeze wind convergences are expected to trigger showers again over inland parts of the North Island today says MetService.

These are expected to be heavy, with a high risk of thunderstorms from inland Waikato down to Taranaki, across to inland Bay of Plenty and the ranges of Gisborne down to about Palmerston North.

WeatherWatch.co.nz says the area for thunderstorm risk is even greater than yesterday.  Head weather analyst Philip Duncan says yesterday’s thunderstorms were on a scale not often seen in New Zealand.  “We don’t often see such a large area affected by severe thunderstorms.  We’re having a small taste of what Americans often see in the midwest”.

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Any thunderstorms that develop in the afternoon and early evening are expected to be slow moving, and as a result may produce localised rainfall rates of 15 to 25mm/hr, and possibly with small hail says MetService.

The most intense storms are expected in eastern parts of Waikato and Waitomo,Taumarunui, Taupo,Taihape, and the the ranges of Gisborne and Hawkes Bay.

In these areas there is a moderate risk of SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS and there could be localised torrential downpours with rainfall rates in excess of 40mm per hour.

A moderate risk of a few thunderstorms extends northwards along western parts of Northland and Auckland, the southern Coromandel Peninsula, and southwards down into the Tararuas and Wairarapa. There is also a moderate risk of a few thunderstorms triggering over the Nelson Lakes and western ranges of Buller.

No thunderstorms expected over the rest of the country.