Tornado rips roof off home

A tornado ripped through Ramarama, south of Auckland, this morning, damaging buildings and uprooting trees.

The tornado struck shortly before midday, tearing a top-storey roof off one house and causing damage to sheds, breaking windows and knocking over trees.

A Fire Service spokesman said there were no reports of injuries, but the twister caused plenty of damage in a relatively small area.

Power was also temporarily cut.

The tornado came as a front from the Tasman brought wind and heavy rain to much of the country.

- NZPA