Gisborne has already been hit with heavy rain this afternoon. Photo: Unsplash / Daoudi Aissa
A second severe thunderstorm warning for Gisborne has been lifted by the MetService.
MetService's weather radar detected severe thunderstorms near Gisborne, Te Karaka, Waipaoa, Ormond and Ngātapa just after 6pm on Tuesday.
That weather system was also forecast to affect Waimata and Kanakanaia just before 6.40pm and Tolaga Bay and Tauwhareparae just before 7.10pm.
Severe thunderstorm warnings for Wairoa and parts of Canterbury have also been lifted, as have heavy rain watches for Northland, the Bay of Plenty and Gisborne.
Only a severe thunderstorm watch for the Bay of Plenty and Gisborne expected to last until midnight, remains in place.
A local Gisborne resident Roger Handford said that dark clouds could be seen piling up over the hills to the west just after 1.15pm and then minutes later the rain burst over Gisborne, accompanied by thunder.
Rainfall in Gisborne. Photo: Supplied / Roger Handford
MetService meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane advised people to stay updated on the weather forecast.
"Severe thunderstorms bring a risk of very intense downpours and the possibility of surface flooding.
"While festivities are underway, it's prudent to stay updated on the latest forecasts ... as a Red Thunderstorm Warning will be issued for any storms that become severe."
For the eastern South Island though, Tuesday marked a shift to cooler, fresher air, extending to the lower North Island on Wednesday, temporarily lowering temperatures in those regions.
MetService said this brief cooldown, following warm and humid days, preceded a return to warmer conditions on Friday, potentially reaching 30°C in Canterbury.
As warmth dominates the east, Friday brings a wetter narrative elsewhere, courtesy of one of the last active weather system of the year.
But wet weather was set to remain for western parts of the North and South Island, accompanied by strong winds in the South Island and lower North Island.
Makgabutlane encouraged everyone to "take full advantage of the good weather when it's there" during this changeable week.