Aucklanders have been advised to stay indoors and secure loose objects around the house, as the region is inundated by thunderstorms that could bring flash flooding.
MetService has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the region, as well as the Coromandel Peninsula, Waikato and the Bay of Plenty.
Video footage filmed just after 1pm showed an intense deluge in central Auckland's Mt Eden village that overwhelmed drains and left residents running for cover.
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If very heavy rain fallls, as is anticipated, driving conditions will become "extremely hazardous", MetService says.
The organisation's severe weather forecaster Peter Little says there's a "moderate risk" of flash flooding in localised areas.
He explained the main risk is between south Auckland and Taranaki, where thunderstorms are anticipated to hit at some point in the afternoon, and could last until nightfall.
However Mr Little allayed fears that flooding will be widespread, explaining that the nature of thunderstorms is that they "have potential for dropping a lot of rain in a small area".
That means they're localised, and could leave some areas saturated and adjacent areas bone-dry.
WeatherWatch has warned those in the Kaimai Ranges to brace for "stationary torrential downpours" that "may lead to slips, hail, flash flooding and thunderstorms".
Hail is anticipated for some areas of the lower North Island.
Newshub.
