Over 88,000 lightning strikes across the country

September 3, 2024

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Overnight thunderstorms brought about 88,000 lightning strikes across New Zealand, with roughly a quarter hitting land, according to MetService.

The lightning strikes occurred during a Severe Thunderstorm Watch covering most of the North Island, beginning just before midnight. Meteorologist Alwyn Bakker explained that the storms were part of a large rain band moving across the country.

In Auckland, many people reported being woken up by thunder and lightning. By 3 a.m., weather stations in the region recorded heavy rainfall, with some places receiving over 20mm of rain in just an hour. Other parts of the North Island, including Taranaki and Wellington, saw similar downpours.

Despite the stormy night, the weather is expected to improve for the rest of the weekend, with sunny conditions predicted for much of the North Island.

Article written by Milli Banbury

This article was written using AI as an assistive tool for research and writing.

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Digital Thinking

At the school fair, Mia helped at the Kiwi Kids stall. The class had made bird feeders from recycled yoghurt containers and string. Children and parents stopped to look, and Mia explained how the feeders could hang in a tree. By lunchtime, nearly all the feeders had sold. Mia felt proud because the stall raised money for the school garden. She hoped the garden would soon have more flowers and native plants for insects and tūī.

Which sentence best tells the main idea of the passage?

Mia explained that the feeders could hang in a tree. The class sold bird feeders to raise money for the school garden. Parents stopped to look at the school stall. The garden would have more flowers and native plants.