EXTREME WEATHER - NEW ZEALAND

Thunderstorms have hit parts of the North Island tonight, causing heavy rain and hail in the Coromandel and flooding in Gisborne. MetService forecasted severe thunderstorms for Auckland, Northland, Coromandel, Bay of Plenty and Waikato this evening. ONE News understands the Coromandel Peninsular has been hit hard with thunder, lightning, hail and torrential rain. Gisborne has also experienced heavy rain which has caused flooding along Back Ormond Rd. MetService is warning the heavy rain is likely to continue in Gisborne and the Hawkes Bay overnight. Earlier this afternoon, a hail storm, accompanied by thunder and heavy rain, struck parts of Auckland and Northland. New entrant students at Baverstock Oaks Primary School in South Auckland were amazed to see their school courtyard covered with hail. The burst of wet weather is expected to be replaced with mainly fine conditions across the North Island tomorrow.

RSOE