Wild winds and thunder for Auckland and North IslandMetService MetService Severe Thuderstorm Watch Video across large areas of New Zealand. MetService has forecast heavy rain and thunder to move up from the South Island to the North Island late Friday afternoon before "another burst of thundery rain to parts of the North Island" on Saturday. Thunderstorms and wild winds will batter the North Island Friday night and into the weekend as powerline companies warn to batten down the hatches. READ MORE:* Lightning strikes more than 3000 times in two hours as wild weather threatens* Severe weather warnings in place as wild weather looks set to continueVector has rostered extra crews on to deal with the impending risk of electricity-related hazards. PETER MEECHAM/FAIRFAX NZ Wet weather and wild winds could cut power to Auckland residents this weekend.

Source: Stuff May 19, 2016 22:07 UTC