Photo: Unsplash / Daoudi Aissa

A severe thunderstorm warning saying torrential rain could be coming has been issued on Saturday evening for some parts of Northland.

Earlier watches issued for the wider region and for Auckland remain in place.

MetService said the warning – an upgrade from a thunderstorm watch – applies to Kaipara, the Far North and Whangārei, and torrential rain could be heading for those areas, moving south.

“At 5.22pm, MetService weather radar detected a line of severe thunderstorms lying from Kaikohe to Moengawahine to Titoki,” it said.

“This line of severe thunderstorms is moving towards the east-south-east, and is expected to lie from Moerewa to Purua to Maungatapere at 5.52pm and from Kawakawa to Maungatapere to Portland at 6.22pm.

Torrential rain can cause flooding in streams, gullies and urban areas, and can make driving extremely hazardous, it said.

The wider watch warned of thunderstorms and downpours, which could cause hazards – particularly near waterways – and bring large hail.

As storms approach, the National Emergency Management Agency recommends people prepare by sheltering indoors away from windows, avoiding trees, secure loose items on your property, check drains and gutters are clear, and – if on the road – be ready to slow or stop.

During and after storms, people should be careful of fallen trees and power-lines, and stay away from streams and drains, as flash flooding may still occur.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.