A tornado touched down in Alexandra this evening, damaging up to four houses and scattering debris. Video / Bridie Rose
A severe thunderstorms warning for parts of the Waikato has been lifted tonight after earlier warnings of heavy rain and possible tornadoes.
Earlier this evening, MetService said the severe weather had been recorded near Cambridge, Karapiro, Maungatautari and Rotoorangi.
The stormy weather was moving south-southwest and was expected to lie near Arapuni and Maungatautari at 6.15pm and near Arapuni, Maungatautari, Arohena and Hodderville at 6.45pm.
“These thunderstorms are expected to be accompanied by very heavy rain, possible tornadoes and hail.
“Very heavy rain can cause surface and/or flash flooding about streams, gullies and urban areas, and make driving conditions extremely hazardous.
“Tornadoes can blow out windows, lift roofs, break large branches off trees, generate dangerous flying debris and blow vehicles off the road.
“Hail can cause damage to crops, orchards and vines and may make driving conditions hazardous.”
The National Emergency Management Agency advises that as storms approach, people should take shelter, preferably indoors and away from windows, avoid sheltering under trees and get back to land if on the water.
People should also secure loose objects around their properties, check drains and gutters are clear and be ready to slow down or stop if driving.
People should avoid streams and drains which could be prone to flash flooding.
The MetService issued an alert at 6.52pm saying the severe thunderstorm warning had been lifted for the Bay of Plenty radar area.
Earlier today, MetService issued a severe weather warning for two regions today, warning residents of Hawke’s Bay and the top of the South Island of an incoming deluge - with the mainlanders also warned that severe thunderstorms are headed their way.
With wet weather predicted for much of Aotearoa, a heavy rain watch has been issued for the ranges of Hawke’s Bay and for inland parts of Buller, Nelson and southwest Marlborough - with those areas warned of the risk of small tornadoes.
Forecasters say a “very humid and unstable airmass” is to blame for the wet conditions, the latest instalment of a run of rainy days that threaten to put a dampener on Kiwis’ Christmas plans.
The warning for Hawke’s Bay begins at 3pm today with heavy rain and thunderstorms predicted, but those in Buller, Marlborough and Nelson are under a severe thunderstorm watch and have been told to watch the skies from 2pm.
Scattered thunderstorms are expected to develop over the northern and western South Island this (Sunday) afternoon and evening, with forecasters warning of localised heavy rain and hail.
Those in inland parts of Nelson (especially near Nelson Lakes), inland parts of southwest Marlborough and inland Buller, are warned that thunderstorms could be severe between about 2pm and 10pm, with localised downpours of 25-40mm/h. MetService also warns of a low risk of a very small localised tornado in these areas.
The intense rain could lead to flash flooding, especially in low-lying areas, and motorists are warned of hazardous conditions and poor visibility.
Emergency services were called to Leaning Rock Rd after reports of a tornado around 6.30pm.
No injuries were reported, a police spokesman said.
Debris goes flying after a tornado struck properties at Springvale near Alexandra. Photo / Connor Diver
“What an incredible and chilling moment to watch,” Alexandra man Connor Diver said after photographing the moment the twister took out a caravan.
“That explosion of bits was a camper getting ripped apart. We went up to make sure the people were okay at this house that had part of their roof go flying.
Alexandra man Marcus Allan learned of the tornado after a neighbour contacted him to say property he had been storing in Springvale had been damaged.
“I just came out to check on it - we got a phone call from the neighbours saying our stuff was just not here, and we soon found out that it wasn’t.”
A 2.5m x2.5m portacom containing hunting gear and other equipment was lost to the tornado, with the only evidence of its existence debris strewn across paddocks.
The forecast comes as wet and muggy weather in the past week has dampened some Kiwis’ hopes of a sunny Christmas, but forecasters remain “optimistic” a shift is coming.
A high-pressure system moving up the country should bring about an improvement in the dreary weather for many, Niwa meteorologist Chris Brandolino said.
“As we get closer to Christmas settled weather is on the way … it should be improving in the middle part of next week and into Christmas,” Brandolino said.
“I’m most optimistic for the South Island, still optimistic for the upper North Island, just not quite as much.
“We are going to see some warmer temperatures return … next week it’s maybe going to turn a bit cooler mid-week but heading to Christmas Day it’ll be warming up.”
MetService meteorologist Sonja Farmer said it was difficult to forecast Christmas Day more than a week out, but the high pressure around the shores of the country was likely to bring sunshine for some.
“The good news with that high pressure is it decreases the risk of widespread rain that’s currently around. But it doesn’t mean there won’t be any rain, it just means we won’t have the sort of thing we’ve got at the moment, which is days and days of constant [rain],” she said.
