Thunder risk Tuesday 21st to Thursday 23rd May

[Nev]

Nice waterspout pics Brian. TVNZ also has a few small pics and also some footage from Titirangi here.

Also some pics from Stuff - 'Waterspouts twirl in Auckland'.

And the NZ Herald - 'Reader photos: Waterspouts spotted in Auckland'.

[Michael]

Took a video quite impressive sky lighting up and screen capture wont capture anything except black.

[David]

Just got home, good thunder and lightning show from here
Big flashes and some really big rumbles

[Vertigo]

Round two appears to be making its way this way now

[KiwiWeather]

Wow Brian!!

This is an amazing storm and its still going on here. I've been out and got some fabulous footage, I can't wait to put a vid up. One of the best thunder-storms I have seen in New Zealand for years. Need to download and recharge batteries.

I just bet that Swill is getting some terrific shots!!

[Tornado Tim]

Quite a significant T-storm Outlook update:

Amended at 4:00pm to indicate a low risk of severe thunderstorms in Northland and Auckland, easing this evening. These storms could be accompanied by downpours, damaging wind gusts and large hail. The risk for thunderstorms over the upper North Island as indicated on the map has been upgraded from moderate to high.

A large low lies slow-moving over the Tasman Sea, extending an unstable airmass over much of the North Island and northern South Island. Several troughs associated with this low are expected to move over New Zealand today and tomorrow.

Most thunderstorms that occur today are expected to develop and remain over the sea, but there is a moderate risk of thunderstorms about coastal Waikato, Waitomo, northern Taranaki, northwest Nelson and the western Marlborough Sounds throughout the day. If these thunderstorms occur they are likely to be accompanied by localised heavy rain of 10 to 25mm per hour, strong wind gusts of around 90 km/h and hail of 10 to 20mm diameter.

Early afternoon, the moderate risk area spreads to Northland, Auckland, the remainder of Waikato, Coromandel Peninsula, parts of Bay of Plenty, northern Gisborne and the remainder of Taranaki. Later in the afternoon, the moderate risk also spreads to coastal Buller. In these areas, the thunderstorms are likely to be accompanied by localised heavy rain of 10 to 25mm per hour and hail of 10 to 20mm diameter. There is also a very small risk of weak tornadoes occuring within these areas.

In most areas, the moderate risk should decrease during the evening as temperatures over the land cool.

Outside the above areas, a low risk of thunderstorms remains during the day (especially during the afternoon) in remaining areas of Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Nelson and Buller as well as Taumarunui and Taupo.

No other areas of severe convection or thunderstorms are expected.

[David]

Just as the rain stopped, the sun came out, huge rainbow across the sky and then there was a flash and spectacular thunderclap

The best thunderstorm I have seen in ages. Have some pics on my phone before the rain hit but they do not look anywhere near as good as they did with my eyes Will try upload something

[NZstorm]

I was working in Maunakau today and thunder started about 3.15pm. The storm gradually built up with frequent lightning.
If I had of had my SLR then I could have got lightning pics. Awesome CG's.
Observed pea hail mixed in with rain.

[David]

This is the best I could get. Powerlines and all!
It shows the storm's edge, and the turbulent clouds before the rain hit

IMG097.jpg

[Manukau heads obs]

was the strongest updrafts I have seen here as the line came over (rain free bases)
the clouds were going straight up, was like being in the midwest!

[David]

The auckland city webcam showed the edge of the storm rolling across at 3.57pm
Photo is from http://www.sitecam.co.nz/auckland_webcam/

[seej]

Great reports people! Nothing to report here at all though. Just a bit of rain.

[David]

More thunder here out to the east

[Thunder]

Cool! I'm thinking the front out west moved onto land quicker then I initially thought. Thought it would be more like about now.

Cool stuff anyway and could be round two again tomorrow. Good stuff!

[seej]

More thunder here out to the east

Yeah driving back from uni over the harbour bridge, at around 1.30pm I could see one severe storm forming near Massey over the Waitemata, it was moving generally to the east. Looked great! Havnt seen one like that in about 4-5 years, and usually in Summer.

[David]

Seen a few flashes out to sea as well

[seej]

Yeah I can see them out the window intermittently, it looks very cool out there for you!

[KiwiWeather]

Some shots pulled from my vid's this afternoon.

[spwill]

Well done on the photos
Here is a photo of a lightning bolt over East Auckland, the best storm I have been in for a while.

[Nev]

Some great shots there. Yeah, some great action out this way also, along with some heavy downpours, 24mm over the last couple of hours or so (plus 6mm early this morn). Otherwise quite a pleasant day.

[David]

I love that pic spwill, awesome CG and beautiful colours. Well done!

[Manukau heads obs]

great stuff everyone
spwill , you are often at the airport...bet you kicking yourself you were not today..looks like a great view from there of the water spouts

[Orion]

Neat photos, thankyou!

[spwill]

great stuff everyone
spwill , you are often at the airport...bet you kicking yourself you were not today..looks like a great view from there of the water spouts

Yes, missed that , I was around the Manakau today, now going through my photos, a few more lightning shots here as well.

[NZstorm]

Daytime heating and NE wind was the trigger for todays storm.

Pic of thunderstorm developing about 3.30pm.