• Fifteen flights have been cancelled as gales hit Wellington
• A swathe of heavy rain and strong wind watches have been issued
• Thunderstorms have hit Auckland this evening

Thunderstorms have reached Auckland on Thursday night, shaking the city with giant rattles and booms.

Aucklanders faced a nervous wait as the thunderstorms inched closer in the last couple of hours - with MetService warning these may be accompanied by strong wind gusts and hail as they move through.

They finally hit Auckland just before 7pm, shocking residents with their power.

“Genuinely thought lightning had struck the house. I’ve never heard thunder that loud in my life!” one person posted to a community page.

“Wow that was intense,” another said.

MetService meteorologist David Miller told the Herald an active front is currently moving over the North Island from the west, bringing thunderstorms from Northland down to Wellington.

“Most western parts of the North Island have experienced thunderstorms this afternoon and evening,” he said.

Auckland is now seeing a line of active thunderstorms, which will likely continue for the next few hours, with residents being able to expect some rumbles and lightning until around 11pm.

“A lot of thunderstorm activity over western parts of the North Island, as an active front spreads onto the country. Keep safe out there,” MetService tweeted.

Niwa said there have been 200,000 lightning strikes in the Tasman Sea region on Thursday, caused by air masses clashing.

MetService meteorologist Alistair Gorman said there had been around 29,500 lightning strikes in the Tasman region with over 2100 strikes over the North Island, and 4700 over the South Island.

MetService meteorologist Alistair Gorman said there had been around 29,500 lightning strikes in the Tasman region with over 2100 strikes over the North Island, and 4700 over the South Island.

“So far there’s just been under 100 in the Auckland area this evening, but you’ll easily double that in the next few hours,” he said.

“That will continue well into the evening and ease off into midnight.”

He said there was particularly more lightning to come for the west of the South Island and southern North Island before things ease off tomorrow morning.

Flights cancelled

So far 15 flights have been cancelled in Wellington due to strong winds.

A Wellington Airport spokesperson warned there may be further disruptions.

“Most flights have been able to operate normally, however the wind is still strong and gusty at times causing issues for some arriving aircraft. A total of 15 flights so far have been cancelled because of the wind,” they said.

“Passengers are advised to check with their airlines for the latest information on their flights.”

Earlier, Flight NZ417 was forced to turn back to Auckland after strong winds prevented it from landing.

A strong wind watch, expected to last until 4pm, is in place for Wairarapa, Wellington and the Marlborough Sounds.

MetService warned the winds could become “severe gales” and cause damage to trees, powerlines and unsecured structures.

A MetService spokesperson said the strongest winds were over the top of the Remutaka summit at around 133km/h.

Closer to Wellington city, gusts reached around 115km/h, while at Wellington Airport the gusts reached 100km/h.

Wild weather watches

MetService has issued several strong winds and heavy rain watches as the wild weather sweeps the country.

MetService has issued a heavy rain watch for Tararua Range, the ranges of Westland south of Arthur’s Pass and the headwaters of the Canterbury lakes beginning at 1pm.

MetService meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane said the heavy rain watch came with a risk of thunderstorms, including strong winds and possible hail. She said further watches are likely in the coming days.

Makgabutlane said the wild weather was connected to the Australian air mass flowing over the Tasman Sea.

The air mass also brought unseasonably warm temperatures to many areas of the country.

NIWA reported the top temperatures would “easily be in the low 20s” with some areas possibly getting to 25C.

A road snowfall warning is also in place for Milford Rd tonight starting at 9pm.