An intense burst of thunderstorms came off the Tasman Sea around 7pm Friday and pelted West Auckland with larger than normal hail.

The large hail, caused by towering clouds crossing the city with thunderstorms, slammed West Auckland suburbs as it came off the sea and crossed over the Waitakere Ranges. Near continuous thunder went for about 30 minutes while hail was short and sharp. The large hail was also created by the mild air over Auckland mixing with the cold polar change now moving in. Hail on Saturday will likely be smaller, pea sized.

More isolated thunderstorms and hail are expected over Saturday and very early Sunday in Auckland and, in fact, in most main centres across New Zealand as the main polar blast moves in.

There is some more afterward @WeatherWatchNZ @MetService pic.twitter.com/JHFwnoOdiQ

— Ian Ray (@ianray68) May 31, 2019

@WeatherWatchNZ Big Hail out west pic.twitter.com/Zjzk08rXr6

— Brett Buist (@brett0r) May 31, 2019

Crazy hail storm in west Auckland @WeatherWatchNZ @MetService pic.twitter.com/yQCuIlENeL

— Mo S. (@moshen81) May 31, 2019

LIVE LIGHTNING TRACKER: www.weatherwatch.co.nz/lightning

– WeatherWatch.co.nz