Rain, hail and lightning hit parts of Hawke's Bay
Thunder, lightning, and hail battered Hawke's Bay this afternoon.
But any reprieve will be shortlived, as the prospect of heavy rain looms large over the region.
MetService Forecaster Aidan Pyselman says 3854 lightning strikes hit the North Island during a period of 12 hours to 4pm this afternoon - the main cluster of which hit Hawke's Bay and Northern Wairarapa.
Hail and heavy rain was also reported in Dannervirke and across parts of Hastings from Bridge Pa to Havelock North by 4pm.
The conditions followed two weather warnings from national weather agency MetService, one mid-morning being for severe thunderstorms between 1pm and 5pm.
Pyselman says there are a few more wet days ahead for Hawke's Bay, with the potential for heavy rain on Friday.
A heavy rain watch has been issued for Hawke's Bay for 24 hours from 9pm tomorrow (Thursday) evening, with rainfall amounts possibly exceeding warning criteria in the ranges.
"There is a low coming down from the north with an associated rain band which is going to impact Hawke's Bay and large parts of the North Island through Thursday and Friday," Pyselman says.
