Wild winter weather: NZ battens down the hatches as more thunderstorms roll across the country

At least two small tornados have caused damage on the Kapiti Coast, north of Wellington, tonight as great swathes of New Zealand batten down the hatches to guard against a rolling line of thunderstorms striking the country.

There have already been 21,500 lightning strikes over land and water in 12 hours, MetService says, with more thunderstorms on their way.

And as of 5pm, there were 41 warnings and watches across the country - including 18 across the North Island and 23 on the Mainland - as forecasters warn of a stormy night ahead.

Severe thunderstorm warnings have been issued by MetService for Wellington city, Porirua, Hutt City, Upper Hutt, Kapiti Coast, South Wairarapa, Taranaki and up the West Coast beyond Raglan, and extending south across a choppy Cook Strait to Marlborough, Nelson, Buller and the Canterbury high country.

🪖 Like a marching army, strong wind gusts are moving north, and are set to invade the North Island on Monday 🌬️

The red bars 🟥 indicate areas that could see gusts in excess of 100 km/h. pic.twitter.com/IL3uBfImVh

— NIWA Weather (@NiwaWeather) June 12, 2022

Small tornadoes have also reportedly gone through Waikanae Beach, Kapiti Coast, this afternoon and early evening.

Reports on social media suggest windows and doors have been blown in, with uprooted trees and damaged cars.

One local wrote on social media that their trampoline was now gone and that the experience was 'f*****' scary".

The first tornado was spotted around 4pm – while another was reported to emergency services just after 7pm.

MetService duty forecaster Gerard Bellam said heavy rainfall in the area – with 20mm an hour between 4pm and 6pm, and another 16mm between 6pm and 7pm – could produce that sort of weather activity.

"There is a line of active thunderstorms crossing that area at the moment," he said.

MetService earlier warned that small tornadoes could come with the severe thunderstorms rolling across the country.

Waka Kotahi NZTA also warned of strong winds on the Auckland Harbour Bridge and told motorists to prepare for its possible closure.

SH1 AKL HBR BRIDGE - STRONG WINDS
Be prepared for a possible closure of the Harbour Bridge as @metservice is forecasting wind gusts of between 80-100km/h from 8pm, Sun 12 to 10pm Mon 13 Jun. High sided vehicles & motorcyclists are advised to use SH16 & SH18 as an alternate route. pic.twitter.com/mAALMAgcRy

— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) June 12, 2022

MetService was forecasting wind gusts of between 80 and 100km/h from 8pm and through to tomorrow night.

High-sided vehicles and motorcyclists were advised to use SH16 and SH18 as an alternate route.

With 41 weather warnings and watches across the country, MetService says we're in for a stormy night. Photo / Supplied

Earlier, MetService's weather radar detected the line of severe thunderstorms moving towards the southeast.

Forecasters expect them to be accompanied by torrential rain, large hail, damaging wind gusts, and even small tornadoes.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued for Taranaki Radar Area https://t.co/D9qys1DsDB pic.twitter.com/sKXePxlPw8

— MetService Severe Weather Info (@MetServiceWARN) June 12, 2022

Flooding has already closed roads and threatened properties around Porirua today and locals and motorists are being warned to watch out for surface and/or flash flooding about streams, gullies and urban areas, and hazardous driving conditions.

Heavy rain kept emergency services busy around Porirua, with firefighters attending seven to eight callouts since midday, where water was threatening people's houses.

Flooding from above New World Paremata in Porirua. Photo / Brianna Banks

Fenz central shift manager Karen McDonald said the water had not managed to get inside most houses but was threatening to.

It comes as wild winter weather swept across the country today.

Glenorchy residents woke up to a major dump of snow on Sunday morning. Photo / George Heard

It's still snowing in the lower South Island, though not at altitudes as low as Saturday when snow was down to sea level, but it's still blocking roads in some areas.

Snow blanketed parts of Central Otago yesterday, bringing joy to the region's ski fields, with Cardrona ski field opening early and other southern mountains set to follow suit in the coming days.

Snow continues to fall in Central Otago and provides fun weekend activities. Photo / George Heard

Road snowfall warnings have been issued for the Desert Rd, Lewis Pass, Arthur's Pass, Lindis Pass, the Crown Range Rd and Milford Rd.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency said Lindis Pass was closed just after 10am because of heavy snow, while snow had also closed Milford Rd and the Crown Range Rd.

UPDATE 1:45PM, SUN 12 JUN
SH58 Paremata is now CLOSED between Oak Ave and Postgate Dr, due to a slip. Please avoid the area and consider using an alternate route. ^AP https://t.co/NWKuNaHtML

— Waka Kotahi NZTA Wellington (@WakaKotahiWgtn) June 12, 2022

MetService meteorologist Stephen Glassey said for Auckland, Northland and Waikato the main thunderstorm risk would be overnight.

"It's very stormy weather across many parts of the country ... as well as squally thundery showers, there's also strong winds and heavy rain," he said.

The weather system was sitting in the Tasman Sea but had come up from the south and had brought a lot of cold air with it. Eastern areas that were more sheltered were not getting such bad weather, Glassey said.