A fast-moving thunderstorm that sparked a call for Aucklanders to shelter indoors has now passed - but forecasters are warning the danger isn't over yet.
Story continues after live blog.
The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) shared a map of Auckland on Wednesday morning, showing lightning strike locations.
NIWA said earlier that showers and thunderstorms over the region were moving to the north-east.
But it added: "Some may have damaging wind and hail. Threat for damaging wind will increase from about mid-afternoon."
MetService earlier said the weather system was moving quickly northeastwards over Wellsford, the Hauraki Gulf, and northern Coromandel, and heading towards Great Barrier Island.
Six orange and six yellow weather warnings/watches remain over the country, but the earlier red warning has been reduced.
The weather agency still has a severe thunderstorm watch in place for Auckland and Great Barrier Island, the Coromandel Peninsula and Waikato.
"Squally showers embedded in a very strong southwest flow are expected across Auckland, and western parts of Waikato and Coromandel Peninsula during Wednesday afternoon and early evening," MetService said.
"There is a moderate risk of severe thunderstorms during this time, with localised damaging wind gusts in excess of 110 km/h. Wind gusts of this strength can cause some structural damage, including trees and power lines, and may make driving hazardous."
An earlier severe thunderstorm warning was issued for Rodney, Gulf, Thames Coromandel, Kaipara, Auckland City, Waikato, Hauraki, Waitakere, Franklin and Albany.
"At 09:30am, MetService weather radar detected a line of severe thunderstorms lying from offshore Kaipara West Coat to offshore Auckland west coast to Mercer. This line of severe thunderstorms is moving towards the northeast, and is expected to lie from offshore Kaipara west coast to Kaukapakapa to Firth of Thames at 10:00 am and from Tokatoka to Leigh to Matarangi at 10:30am" Metservice warned.
"These thunderstorms are expected to be accompanied by damaging wind gusts."
The National Emergency Management Agency advises that as storms approach you should:
- 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
- During and after the storm, you should also:
- Beware of fallen trees and power lines
- Avoid streams and drains as you may be swept away in flash flooding
A strong wind warning was also issued for Auckland and Great Barrier Island, with severe gusts up to 120km/h forecast for exposed places.
"Strong wind gusts could damage trees, powerlines and unsecured structures. Driving may be hazardous, especially for high-sided vehicles and motorcycles," MetService warned.
Meanwhile, there's also a strong wind watch in place for Northland, from Dargaville and Whangārei southwards, as well as Coromandel Peninsula and the Kaimai Range.
In the central North Island, there's a road snowfall warning for Desert Road (SH1).
"Rain may briefly turn to snow about the summit Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning, and up to 1 cm of snow could accumulate," MetService forecast.
A road snowfall warning is also in place for the South Island's Lindis Pass (SH8), Crown Range Rd and Milford Rd (SH94), with up to 4cm of snow expected in Milford.
And mimicking the north, it'll be windy for the bottom of the south on Wednesday, with strong wind watches in place for Coastal parts of Dunedin and Clutha, from the Otago Peninsula southwards, as well as Stewart Island and coastal parts of Southland.
MetService said people should expect severe gales in exposed areas.
