Soumya Bhamidipati

5 days ago | radionz.co.nz | Soumya Bhamidipati

Aucklanders say severe weather alerts were too little too late, during a wild thunder and lightning storm that lashed Auckland and caused flooding on Easter Friday night, drawing comparisons with the devastating Auckland Anniversary weekend floods of 2023. But Auckland Emergency Management is also making no apologies for sending out two alerts within several minutes of each other on Saturday afternoon.

6 days ago | radionz.co.nz | Soumya Bhamidipati

Members of the public have voiced concern on social media about the delay in notifications from authorities, following a wild thunder and lightning storm that lashed Auckland overnight on Friday. However, Auckland Emergency Management (AEM) general manager Adam Maggs defended the agency's response. He said the agency began speaking to MetService about midnight on Easter Friday, and a severe thunderstorm watch was issued shortly after.

6 days ago | rnz.co.nz | Lucy Xia |Soumya Bhamidipati

Video: Supplied / Brya WallaceAuckland was hit by a severe overnight thunderstorm which has caused flooding in areas across the region. The line of thunderstorms, connected to ex-tropical Cyclone Tam, is moving very slowly over the region. MetService meterologist Alain Baillie said 26.5 millimetres of rain was recorded at Mahurangi, in northern Auckland, between 10pm and 11pm. About 21 millimetres was recorded at Whenuapai Airport in the hour leading to midnight.

6 days ago | rnz.co.nz | Lucy Xia |Soumya Bhamidipati

Video: Supplied / Brya WallaceMultiple flights bound for Auckland Airport have been cancelled or diverted, as a thunderstorm unleashes heavy downpours across Auckland. The airport's website shows at least eight flights have been cancelled, one has been diverted, and three have a new scheduled landing time. Fire and Emergency said it attended dozens of weather-related callouts in a two-hour period around midnight.

6 days ago | rnz.co.nz | Soumya Bhamidipati

A massive thunder and lightning storm has swept over the Auckland region. It comes off the back of days of wild weather following Ex-Cyclone Tam, which has left thousands still without power and damaged roads and other infrastructure. Waimauku resident Brya Wallace said the first storm rolled in at about 10pm. "I was actually playing a video game on my computer and could hear the thunder through my headset," she said.