A severe weather warning issued for the Bay of Plenty has been lifted and thunder and hail is now being forecast for this afternoon.

The deep and large low currently centred over the South Island is bringing sunny spells, big downpours and hail to northern New Zealand, while the east of the South Island is wet under widespread rain.

'The North Island today is under a large nor'west flow. Big towering clouds are in this flow and some are producing very heavy downpours with hail and isolated thunderstorms,” says WeatherWatch.co.nz.

'As of 11am there was thunder in Auckland.

'On Saturday more rain, before that same sou'west change moves in and clears showers by night time (and perhaps a dusting of snow on the Central Plateau).”

11am lightning tracker.