A major thunder and lightning show is playing out over Wellington, reportedly causing flash flooding through the city.
Locals have taken to twitter, impressed with the intensity of the storm.
Sheet and fork lightning and loud rumbles of thunder began about 5.45pm and MetService said it would hang around into the evening.
A fire service spokeswoman said they were flat out with calls to the communications centre. A shift manager was too busy to comment to media, she said.
MetService meteorologist Hordur Thordarson said the storm was moving across Wellington and would "gradually" move north this evening.
There had been no reports of hail. "This is mostly bursts of heavy rain," he said.
WeatherWatch.co.nz said there had been reports of multiple flash and surface flooding in Wellington.
New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) said there was reduced visibility on the roads due to the weather.
NZHerald.co.nz

6:27pm update --- A sudden early evening thunderstorm has caused manholes to pop their covers, roads to turn into rivers, pets (and some people!) to be frightened and some airline passengers delayed.

The dramatic downpours and thunderstorms are being experienced across the city in many suburbs.

On Twitter photos of streets and foothpaths flooding as gutters, drains and storm water ways are overwhelmed by the extremely highly rainfall rate.

Some passengers tweeted that they were delayed on the tarmac at Wellington airport while the storms passed over.

NZTA Wellington asked motorists to watch following distances and take care with reduced visibility.

The storms may affect Kapiti and South Wairarapa this evening.  Those along the western coastline of the North Island may be exposed to isolated thunderstorms over the next 36 hours.

In Wellington thunderstorms should ease this evening.
Weather Watch

UPDATED 6:45pm --- A narrow band of thunderstorms and torrential rain is moving slowly up the lower North Island and has brought some problems to Wellington already.

As of 6:40pm the main band of active thunderstorms - with the risk of flash flooding - was moving northwards mostly along the western coastline between Porirua and Kapiti.  It is likely it will this evening move in to Horowhenua, Manawatu in a weakened state, then clear.

These isolated cells could cause cloud to ground lightning, localised flash flooding and significant surface flooding.

We reccommend people stay indoors once they hear thunder. Motorists should avoid driving in thunderstorms due to the risk of slips and flash flooding.
Weather Watch.co.nz

Update 7.00ish
Power lost at Wainuiomata.
Reports of power cuts right across the lower North Island due to thunderstorms.

It was an amazing storm! Saw quite a few cloud to ground strikes. Lots of heavy rain too.
Weather station recorded a rain rate of 25.2mm/hour.