Stormy weather is setting in across Auckland, causing flooding and power outages.
New Zealand's biggest city is receiving its fair share of stormy weather, as a front moves north after pummelling the North Island's west coast overnight.
Thunderstorms hammered Kapiti north to Waikato, where about 8000 lightning strikes were recorded in the early hours of this morning, according to MetService.
Counties Manukau Police are warning drivers to avoid the area around Cavendish Drive after a power box outage at the Cavendish/Sharkey St intersection.
Video shows flames engulfing the power box with thick black smoke billowing up into the sky. A bystander filmed the scene in Manukau from a few metres away.
Contractors are working to restore power, police said, which is affecting traffic lights in the surrounding areas. The outage is already causing "significant traffic disruption."
Flooding has been reported in Grey Lynn by Auckland Transport, which advised drivers on Twitter to be cautious on the Bond St over-bridge due to surface water and flooding.
In Waikato, two streets were closed in Tokoroa after lightning struck a tree just before 7am causing a fire. Kauri Street and West Parkdale Street were closed while fire and emergency services attended the scene.
A severe weather warning for the North Island's west coast was issued last night by MetService. And the meteorological service now warns it's Auckland's turn.
But just because it's rainy doesn't mean it'll be cold. MetService released a statement saying temperatures across New Zealand will be warmer today, with the east coast of the North Island expected to reach 18C.
Auckland was forecast a high of 16C today with light rain in the morning before the thunderstorm is predicted to hit. The weather will then ease to a few showers in the late afternoon.
"Looking ahead to Friday, it could be a wet morning commute for some North Island centres, particularly Auckland and Hamilton," said NIWA Weather on Twitter.
Other areas of the country are under heavy rain watch until 2pm today, including Mt Taranaki, Tongariro National Park and hill country from Taranaki to Lake Taupō, including Waitomo and the headwaters of the Whanganui River.
In the South Island, MetService has issued a road snow warning for Porters Pass (State Highway 73), Lindis Pass (SH8), Crown Range Rd and Milford Rd (SH94).
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