Weather: Thunderstorm warning for Coromandel, Gisborne, Bay of Plenty

Heavy rain, hail and possible thunderstorms are predicted for Sunday evening.
Heavy rain, hail and possible thunderstorms are predicted for Sunday evening. Photo credit: WeatherWatch/File

Possible thunderstorms are on the way towards some of the North Island's holiday hotspots on Sunday evening.

There is a high risk of thunderstorms hitting Rotorua, Tauranga and the north of Gisborne.

"Some of those holiday spots in the Coromandel Peninsula and Bay of Plenty may still get a rumble or two of thunder this afternoon and evening," MetService tweeted on Sunday.

Thunderstorms in high-risk areas could bring localised heavy rain and hail, with a low risk of one or two localised tornadoes.

A moderate thunderstorm risk is in place for the southern Coromandel Peninsula and south of Gisborne.

Eastern Waikato and Waitomo, Taumarunui and Hawke's Bay are also at moderate risk.

There is a low risk of isolated thunderstorms developing about western Nelson this afternoon, mainly within the ranges.

Temperatures were colder than usual for most of the North Island on Sunday, with Wellington seeing a high of 12C, Palmerston North 15C, Auckland 19C, Rotorua 15C and Taupo 14C.

Those North Island areas experienced "unseasonable cold", several degrees below normal for this time of year, WeatherWatch says.

Wellington is set to experience strong, cold southerlies, with rain continuing until Monday morning.

Gisborne is predicted to have showers that will ease into the afternoon, with a high of 17C on Monday.

High pressure has expanded over the South Island, where no thunderstorms are expected. 

Despite the high, WeatherWatch predicts there will be cold weather in the South Island overnight, with areas around Tekapo in Canterbury to reach a 2C low.