Much of North Island at risk of thunderstorms this evening

MetService has a thunderstorm watch in place for much of the west and upper North Island.

A severe thunderstorm watches and warnings for the northern half of the North Island on Tuesday evening have been lifted.

MetService said a severe thunderstorm warning was in place for Whakatāne, Kawerau and Rotorua, and a severe weather watch covered the entire area from Auckland south to Taranaki, Taupō, and Bay of Plenty.

Severe thunderstorms struck parts of the Bay of Plenty, including Te Puke, on Tuesday evening and moved south toward Murupara, it said.

In the South Island, MetService has a heavy rain warning for Westland around and north of Mount Cook until Wednesday evening.

A heavy rain watch is also in place for Buller and headwaters of the Canterbury lakes and rivers between Lewis Pass and Mount Cook for the same period.

But the watch for North Otago and Dunedin is for longer, until Thursday noon.