66,000 lightning strikes, thunderstorms lash the country

Sunday, 10 November 2019

Heavy rain warnings are in place for the West Coast this weekend.

More than 66,000 lightning strikes have been recorded around New Zealand and the Tasman Sea as the country is lashed by wild weather.

Eight domestic and regional flights into and out of Auckland Airport have been cancelled. Weather-related power cuts, fallen trees, slips and flooding have been reported around the North Island.

* Send your weather photos or videos to us at newstips@stuff.co.nz

The thunderstorms were caused by 'moist, unstable' air moving eastward over the country.

Between about 2.30pm and 4.30pm on Sunday, more than 3300 lightning strikes had been recorded in the south and Far North, MetService said.

By 9.15pm there had been 66,000 strikes in total, according to Niwa.

A lightning storm over Auckland brought a little bit of beauty with it.

* Thunder and rain set to dampen weekend plans as 'messy period of weather' arrives**

In the Tasman region, emergency services were responding to several reports of blockages on State Highway 6 between Murchison and Glenhope.

The stretch of road would be closed for some time and motorists should avoid the area or delay their trip, police said.

Slips, flooding and tree falls were among the numerous weather-related calls outs.

A Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) spokesman said fire crews had been called to clear fallen trees in Maungaturoto, Waipu and Helensville.

Richard Pamatatau could see lots of lightning strikes at his home in Muriwai, in west Auckland about 7.30pm. He said power was out in the area and he had kerosene lamps for lighting.

A screengrab shows a flash of lightning looking west from central Auckland to the Waitakere Ranges.

Earlier in the evening lightning struck a power pole on Pamatatau's street.

He, like other residents in the semi-rural, coastal area, had a generator for the basics, such as the water tank and hot water system.

State Highway 6 between Murchison and Glenhope has been closed by a slip. Police said there were a number of slips, fallen trees and flooded patches, and the road would be closed for some time.

'I've never experienced a storm like this in November before and I've lived here for maybe 12 years,' Pamatatau said.

A Vector spokesman confirmed a weather-related power outage had been reported in Muriwai.

'Our crews have made the site safe and are working to restore power as quickly as possible to the small number of customers still without power.

'We remind people to stay away from damaged electrical equipment and report any downed lines to us on 0508 Vector.'

MetService forecaster Gerard Ballen said more wet weather was expected on Monday.

'We're looking at a showery day coming up, especially in the north and west of the North Island, whereas it's going to rain in the east of the South Island.'

Temperatures were expected to drop overnight on Sunday. In Auckland, a minimum of 12C was forecast.

Saturday night had been unusually warm, with the minimum temperature being 18C in Northland and Auckland.

A heavy rain watch was in place for Auckland, Waikato, Waitomo, Taumarunui, western Taupo until about 11pm on Sunday and in inland parts of the Bay of Plenty until 1am on Monday.

Meanwhile, strong north to northeast wind, and possible severe gales, were forecast for Gisborne and the Mahia Peninsula on Sunday evening.

In total, about 4000 lightning strikes had been recorded by 5pm on Sunday.

Ballen said 851mm of rain - about a few months' worth - had been measured in the South Island's western ranges during the past six days.