The watch is in force until 9pm Saturday.
Photo: Photo / 123RF
North Island areas still cleaning up from Cyclone Gabrielle damage are in for further stormy weather this weekend.
A weather watch for possible severe thunderstorms in Gisborne has been upgraded to a warning.
MetService said severe thunderstorms have been detected near Matawai, and were moving towards Matawai, Tarndale Slip and the Raukumara Range.
The storms are expected to arrive by 3:30 pm.
There could be heavy rain and hail, with localised downpours of between 25 and 40mm of rain per hour – and possibly more.
The thunderstorm watch is in force until 9pm Saturday.
Photo: MetService
Earlier today, MetService issued a thunderstorm watch for the Bay of Plenty, Tāupo, Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay.
“These thunderstorms are expected to be slow-moving, and consequently there is a moderate risk that some of these storms could become severe,” the forecaster said on Saturday morning.
The thunderstorm watch continues to remains in place for these areas.
A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for a thunderstorm in the Tairāwhiti/Gisborne rangeshttps://t.co/GeH6tLulff pic.twitter.com/Lh7ulK6Oou
— MetService (@MetService) March 4, 2023
“Rainfall of this intensity can cause surface and/or flash flooding, especially about low-lying areas such as streams, rivers or narrow valleys, and may also lead to slips.
“Driving conditions will also be hazardous with surface flooding and poor visibility in heavy rain,” said the MetService forecaster.
The watch is in force until 9pm Saturday.
The East Coast and Hawke’s Bay were hit hard by Cyclone Gabrielle, with some roads not expected to be fixed for months and thousands forced out of their homes.
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