New Zealanders face another day of cloud, rain and thunderstorms on Sunday as the unsettled weather continues.
MetService has issued a heavy rain watch for parts of the central North Island - and says there's a moderate risk of thunderstorms as well.
The heavy rain watch covers Waikato from Hamilton southwards, eastern areas of Waitomo and Taumarunui, Taupō, and inland Bay of Plenty, including Rotorua.
"Between 9am and 9pm today (Sunday), rainfall amounts in the areas may approach warning criteria. Our official warning criteria for rainfall are greater than 50mm within six hours or 100mm within 24 hours (so in 12 hours that's about 70mm)," it said on Facebook.
Warm, humid air from the Tasman Sea and the tropics is blanketing New Zealand, and combined with daytime heating this leads to "unstable conditions" in many places.
"This morning, there is a moderate risk of thunderstorms about western Northland, Auckland and Waikato. The area of moderate risk expands this afternoon to also cover Waitomo, much of Bay of Plenty, central North Island and Hawke's Bay," MetService added.
"These thunderstorms may be accompanied by localised heavy rain with intensities of 10 to 25mm per hour and hail, reaching 5 to 10mm in diameter this afternoon and evening.
"There is also a moderate risk of thunderstorms about parts of Buller and Westland this morning until tonight, and about most of the rest of the South Island during the afternoon and evening.
"These thunderstorms may produce hail of 5 to 15mm in diameter and localised heavy rain of 10 to 25mm per hour, and possibly more."
