More than 3300 lightning strikes during a two-hour period have been detected across New Zealand as the west coast is battered by thunderstorms.
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The country has been hit by numerous bolts of lightning between roughly 2:30pm and 4:30pm on Sunday, with the majority striking the west of northern and central New Zealand.
MetService says an "active frontal band moving southeast" is to blame, triggering around 600 lightning flashes in Northland as of 7pm.
For Aucklanders, more than 700 lightning strikes were recorded between 6:30pm and 7:30om, according to NIWA.
MetService warns Aucklanders to expect the severe weather to hit between 8pm and 9pm.
"Rainfall of 10 to 20mm is possible, which may cause surface flooding," the forecaster said in a tweet.
Temperatures are expected to drop with a nippy 12C night expected for Auckland residents.
The stormy weather has resulted in a number of regional flight cancellations, with Air New Zealand calling off flights from Auckland to Nelson and Auckland to Tauranga earlier on Sunday evening. Flights to Whangarei and Gisborne have also been delayed.
"A healthy dose of airport chaos as Air NZ suspends even accepting bags due to awful weather," one Twitter user lamented.
A heavy rain watch is in place for Auckland, Waikato, Waitomo, Taumarunui and western Taupo until roughly 11pm on Sunday. The warning will remain in place for Inland parts of the Bay of Plenty until 1am on Monday.
According to NIWA, roughly 66,000 lightning strikes have been recorded acround New Zealand and the Tasman Sea as of 9:15pm on Sunday.
Newshub.
