Severe thunderstorms are moving towards the westsouthwest and are expected to impact Upper Hutt City, Hutt City and South Wairarapa areas, says MetService.
They are expected at 4:25pm near Upper Hutt, Lake Wairarapa and the South Remutaka Range.
And near Lake Ferry, Lake Wairarapa, Pirinoa and the Southern Remutake Range at 4:45pm.
Torrential rain, with the potential of causing surface flooding and/or flash flooding is also expected.
This could make driving conditions extremely hazardous, MetService said.
A severe thunderstorm watch is in place for Wairarapa.
The National Emergency Management Agency has this advice for approaching storms:
- Take shelter, preferably indoors away from windows
- Avoid sheltering under trees, if outside
- Get back to land, if outdoors on the water
- Move cars under cover or away from trees
- Secure any loose objects around your property
- Check that drains and gutters are clear
- Be ready to slow down or stop, if driving
It says during a storm you should be aware of fallen trees and powerlines, and avoid streams and drains due to flash flooding.
RNZ
