Thunderstorms and torrential showers are again popping up over parts of the North and South Islands this afternoon.

WeatherWatch.co.nz readers on our Facebook page have told us of big thunderstorms around Palmerston North while reports have also come in of thunder in Nelson and earlier today Taranaki.

Thunder has also been reported in Levin and Eketahuna and a few rumbles of thunder on the Kaimai Ranges west of Tauranga.

WeatherWatch.co.nz says high humidity and afternoon heating are contributing to the thunderstorms.

New Zealand’s only free and live Lightning Tracker has detected around 1700 strikes around the North Island and upper South Island today with 120 in the past hour, mostly around the lower North Island and just off the south east coast.

Isolated thunderstorms are expected to continue this afternoon mostly south of about Waikato and north of Kaikoura and WeatherWatch.co.nz says some downpours could produce flash flooding and even a low risk of a tornado.

Yesterday WeatherWatch.co.nz confirmed a funnel cloud had formed near Hamilton.  The cloud didn’t touch the ground so it wasn’t classified as a tornado.

– WeatherWatch.co.nz