Lightning, thunder, heavy rain: Weather alerts as NZ braces for turbulent day Lightning, thunder, heavy rain: Weather alerts as NZ braces for turbulent day Sat, 2 Jan 2021, 9:48AM Widespread rain and thunderstorms are expected for much of the country today, and some of the heaviest falls will be in northern regions - coinciding with holidaymakers travelling home. By lunchtime, the entire North Island will be lying under a threat of lightning, rumbling skies and intense localised downpours. The storms are not expected to ease until night. MetService has issued a number of heavy rain watches and warnings for parts of Canterbury and Otago, and ranging from the centre of the North Island to Northland.