The front that brought severe thunderstorms to many parts of the North Island overnight is now heading south.
MetService meteorologist Alwyn Bakker said Whakatāne was hammered with just under 45mm of rain in one hour this morning.
He said Taranaki remained at risk today while those on the West Coast of the South Island should prepare for the possibility of surface flooding and slips.
"We've got another band of rain that's just approaching the West Coast of the South Island, all the way down to the glaciers and through to Fiordland. We've got this bright line of thunderstorms that's making landfall pretty shortly."
Bakker expected Westland to receive as much as 200mm of rain in the next 24 hours.
RNZ
