If you thought summer was missing in action last month, official figures released today prove it.

A shipping container weighing about 2.3 tonnes was hit by a midnight train after it was blown onto the main trunk railway at Otahuhu in the storm at the weekend.

COMMENT: Storms, high winds, heavy rain and even ice... What has happened to summer and will it improve. WeatherWatch head analyst Phil Duncan explains.

Blizzard conditions are sweeping Britain, with snow falling as far south as London and dozens of flights grounded.

Small Pacific island states could be hit by more tropical cyclones during future El Nino weather patterns due to climate change, Australian scientists say.

There was a record downpour in Auckland, a tornado in Taranaki and "quake lights" above Wellington. Oh, and 2016 was likely also New Zealand's hottest year on record.

Power is expected to be restored before nightfall for Gisborne residents, the electricity company says.

Don't make too many plans for that Christmas Day barbie as stormy weather could put a dampener on outdoor celebrations.

Thunderstorms are expected to hit some parts of the North Island today and tomorrow before temperatures soar to low-30s in some parts of New Zealand later this week.

The Metservice is warning rain, wind, and possible thunderstorms are on the way to Wellington for tonight and tomorrow.

The Prime Minister's bodyguards directed traffic around a high rise close to collapse, slips caused traffic chaos and homes were evacuated in capital.

Secretary of State John Kerry won't criticize Donald Trump's climate policies, but says the next US Govt "dare not avoid" the issue.

It was a wild day of weather for the upper North Island yesterday, but what will today bring?

These astonishing photos were taken in the heart of Tornado Alley in the Great Plains of the United States.

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A thunderstorm warning remains in place as violent electrical storms pounded Auckland overnight leaving many without power for hours.

Northland, northern Auckland and Taranaki were buffeted by thunderstorms and high winds last night, as much of the rest of the country

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A gaping chasm has appeared in a south Waikato road as councils across the North Island begin to take stock of damage in the wake of the weekend's storm.

As scary as it might sound, the occurrence is more common than you'd think.

Some homeowners probably won't be insured and fear eviction after tide smashes Sydney coast.

Three people were killed in floodwaters from a storm that pounded Australia's east coast, as Sydney residents brace themselves for another destructive king tide.

Tornadoes touch down in Dodge City, Kansas causing early reports of damage, Konrad Hurrell has been released from his contract with the Warriors and Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett says homeless people could be offered up to $5000 to leave Auckland.

nzherald.co.nz reader Chris Weissenborn sent in this footage of lightning and thunder on the North Shore's Hauraki Corner at 5am this morning.

A very odd atmospheric event has been unfolding in the Arabian Sea.

It was a heartening moment captured amid overwhelming bleakness: a 3-year-old Hurricane Katrina survivor wrapping her chubby little arms round the air force pararescue jumper who had rappelled into New Orleans to save the girl's family from floodwaters.

A day that started off fine and clear for most areas of Auckland yesterday quickly turned into something a "little strange".

Super typhoon Soudelor is generating waves of about 15m as it heads towards Taiwan, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Centre.

An Auckland mother and her terrified son hid in a cupboard as ferocious winds sent a tree branch smashing into their living room.