The Met Office has updated a weather warning for thunderstorms set for this week.
On Tuesday, the region was issued with a yellow warning for thunderstorms expecting to bring heavy rain on Thursday.
The Met Office has now updated the warning which is now in place from 10am to 8pm on Thursday, by bringing it forward by one hour.
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Details of the warning state that "heavy showers and thunderstorms on Thursday have the potential to bring surface water flooding in a few places."
Forecasters say up to 40mm of rain could fall in some locations and thunderstorms may cause some flooding and disruption to power.
Residents should be warned there that homes and businesses could be flooded quickly along with travel disruption causing delays and some cancellations to train and bus services.
The yellow weather warning is covering the entire North East region - from Northumberland and Newcastle to Sunderland and County Durham - with some areas possibly experiencing 20mm-30mm of rain in under an hour.
A Met Office spokesman said: "Following overnight rain and showers, more intense showers and thunderstorms are expected to break out fairly widely from late-morning, before easing during the evening.
"Whilst many areas will miss the most intense storms, torrential downpours are likely in a few places. Where these occur, there is potential for 20 to 30 mm of rain in less than an hour and up to 40 mm in 2 hours.
"This will have the potential to generate surface water flooding, especially if it falls over an urban area."
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