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A deluge of rain in a short time left Tauranga roads flooded and spectacular storm photos captured on camera.

Thunderstorms rolled across the Bay of Plenty from around 7pm-9pm.

In the timeframe, Fire and emergency services fielded around 25 calls, most were to houses but a few of those in Tauranga were to commercial properties.

Rotorua brigade had 13 weather-related callouts.

A Fire and emergency services spokesperson says the water flowed away quickly once the rain stopped.

Late on Monday night Bay of Plenty police were warning motorists to take extra care on the roads.

There was surface flooding in parts of Tauranga, including Cameron Rd, Fraser St, Eleventh Ave through to Fifteenth Ave, and to Greerton.

MetService meteorologist Mark Todd says 34mm of rain was recorded at Rotorua Airport in one hour early evening on Monday.

Tauranga Airport recorded about 14mm in an hour around the same time.

A Poike residents says his rain gauge measured around 70mm of rain after the storm had hit.

A fast-moving front travelling up the North Island had become increasingly active with thunderstorm development about the northern part of the North Island because it happened to come through in the warmer part of the day.

Another front was moving up the country on Tuesday. Around midday it should be just leaving Otago and crossing into South Canterbury, says Mark.

"It's not going to be as active with thunderstorms. This system isn't quite so unstable.

"It's more of a windy system, really. There's quite a tight gradient, especially about eastern coastal areas. We're expecting gales about coastal Southland and Clutha as that comes through this morning."

Southwest gales were expected about exposed coastal areas.

-Additional reporting from Stuff.co.nz

Photos: Tania Green.

Stormy sky over Ohauiti. Photo: Sandie Craig.

Lightning over Cherrywood. Photo: Bridget London.

Storm clouds over the Kaimai Range. Photo: Debby P.

Flooding at Windermere Drive. Photo: Rebecca Dawson.

As the storm clears - photo kings view reserve Judea. Photo: Claire Bailey.

Storm clouds in Otumoetai. Photo: Jo Stewart.

Looking over to Omokoroa and the Mount. Photos: Suzy Picard.

Before the storm hit at Memorial Park. Photo: Jazmin Pudney.