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Whirlwind rips up street as wild weather hits NZ
A mini tornado ripped through a Papamoa street yesterday and a slip closed part of State Highway 1 north of Auckland as heavy rain and wild weather lashed much of the country.
No reprieve from the bad weather is predicted over the next few days.
The MetService last night had severe weather warnings for strong winds and thunderstorms in areas across the country - suggesting winter has finally arrived.
Overnight Tuesday, the biggest snowfall of the year is forecast for the central plateau, as a cold snap grips the North Island.
Strong westerly winds were predicted to follow in Auckland on Wednesday bringing "unpleasant, showery, windy weather".
"It's not going to be a very good week," MetService forecaster Bob Lake told the Herald.
Yesterday, a mini tornado cut a small swathe through Wairakei Ave in Papamoa, near Tauranga, sending roof tiles and guttering flying from three homes shortly before 11am, Fire Services said. Spokesman Jaron Phillips said the three homes had "minor damage" but there were no reports of injuries.
Glen Audas was sitting upstairs at his two-storey home when a gust of wind picked up his patio heater and threw it against the deck outside.
"I sort of told the kids to get inside because we could see what was coming," he said.
Mr Audas described it as a "really howling wind" which went as quickly as it came: "It had been windy that day but this was like really blowing at the time ... it was this swirling wind with leaves and debris."
He felt sorry for those among the worst hit.
"They lost about 50 tiles, had their car damaged, their gazebo flew away and they lost some of their guttering too," he said. "The guy living there is taking it pretty hard."
The wild weather almost coincided with the shortest day - which was on Saturday - regarded by some as when winter really kicks in.
MetService weather ambassador Bob McDavitt said winter was tightening its grip. He said snow was likely down to 400m over the southern half of the North Island on Tuesday night.
"Tuesday's southerly will be unusually cold," said Mr McDavitt.
"Farmers should shelter any vulnerable stock and motorists should keep up-to-date with latest weather and road conditions."
And despite the rain in the north, it largely missed the southern hydro lakes.
Rain is needed as hydro storage in May was at its lowest for that time of year since the 1992 power crisis.
A public campaign on the issue, funded by the five major power companies, is underway.
WEATHER OUTLOOK
* Today: Colder conditions forecast in southern areas - with southerly winds likely to be cold enough to briefly bring snow down to around 400m in Fiordland, Southland, Otago and Canterbury.
* Tomorrow: The southerly gets colder and reaches the North Island. Motorists are warned to keep up-to-date with the latest conditions.
In the South Island a very cold south westerly will bring snow showers to low levels in Southland and Otago along with southwest gales in exposed areas.
The snow showers should ease by late Tuesday afternoon and clear
Tuesday night
* Wednesday: Winds come from the west bringing "unpleasant, showery, windy weather" to Auckland.
* More of the same is expected until the end of the week - but rain charts show clearer skies over the city late Thursday and on Friday.
