KEY POINTS:
A blast of wind - initially thought to be a mini-tornado - ripped through Mt Maunganui yesterday, tearing the roof off a double garage and shearing tiles off houses along several streets.
It was the second time in less than two weeks that properties in the Mount suburb
of Arataki had been damaged by severe winds.
In the last episode, on July 30, a mini-tornado ripped the roofs off several houses, tore through fences and pulled trees out of the ground.
But the Tauranga Fire Service said yesterday's damage appeared to be the result of a strong downdraft because it did not cause the kind of devastation seen from tornadoes in the area in the past.
"This was more like a big wind dump," senior station officer Mark Keller said. "It wasn't tornado damage."
The MetService also said the damage was probably the result of a "downburst", which was a powerful gust of wind generated by a thunderstorm cloud.
Harlene Wharekawa was at home on Seaspray Drive when the wind ripped the roof off her double garage about 8.15am.
She said the wind was so strong, it shook her windows, and she thought it was a tornado.
"[I saw] water mixed with bits and pieces. It just skimmed the side of the house."
She then heard a loud bang, which was the sound of the garage roof lifting and crashing into her neighbour's property.
The wind blast also destroyed her garden shed and flattened a fence that divided the two properties.
Houses in at least five streets were damaged, sparking a flurry of calls to the Fire Service.
Mr Keller said six crews of firefighters went to more than 20 properties, many on Grenada St, where the wind ripped tiles off a whole line of homes.
And experts are predicting more rough weather this week, with motorists warned to be on the lookout for slips. Widespread showers are predicted for the North Island today, with a few thunderstorms from Taranaki to Cape Reinga.
Napier and Gisborne - at 17C - are expected to be the warmest places, while areas including Taupo, Rotorua and Waiouru will be the coldest, with temperatures ranging from 9-13C.
MetService forecaster Mads Naeraa said although there would not be too much wind in many areas, places where thunderstorms hit would be "gusty".
Yesterday cautions were put up on the AA Roadwatch website for motorists to look out for slips. A temporary road through the Kemps Hill area between Tikitiki and Ruatoria - on the East Coast - was open after large slips closed the main road.
In the Waikato, two slips at Hauturu near Te Awamutu caused delays. The road was down to one lane for 100m on State Highway 34 at Aria because of a slip on a blind corner, while a drop closed one lane on State Highway 37 at Waitomo.
The Turoa and Tukino skifields at Mt Ruapehu, Mt Olympus in Canterbury and Mt Dobson at the MacKenzie basin were all closed because of heavy snow and strong winds.
