June and Ben McOmish received the phone call thousands of anxious parents across the world would have wanted to hear yesterday.

Terrified workers at one of the Philippines' major airports described how they were forced to climb out of windows to escape being killed as the strongest typhoon in history swept across their nation and claimed the lives of up to 10,000 people.

Six people have been injured, including a woman who was struck by lightning outside her home, as wild weather lashed New South Wales yesterday.

Northern Europe is cleaning up after a deadly, fierce storm tore across northern Europe, causing 500,000 homes to lose power and mass transport disruption.

Strong winds have again caused flight delays and cancellations at Wellington Airport.

A state of emergency has been declared for the Whanganui district due to an increasing threat of flooding from rising rivers.

Wild winds are have been lashing Auckland city today, with shattered windows< lifted roofs and runaway trampolines.

A Tauranga man is hoping to make it home in time for his delayed 21st birthday celebration today after wild winds prevented him leaving Wellington yesterday.

A major thunder and lightning show is playing out over Wellington, reportedly causing flash flooding through the city.

A Christchurch wildlife park is in mourning after a much-loved ostrich died in Tuesday's storm.

The wintry blast that has caused havoc around the country is easing its icy grip but forecasters warn more of the same is on the way.

Flights and ferries resume services in and out of Wellington, as the country copes with a cold snap that cut power to thousands.

A fine and mild Queen's Birthday weekend is ahead for the North Island, but forecasters say it's the calm before another southerly storm sweeps across the country.

The temporary freezing of Dunedin's economy in this week's snowfall "ground the city to a halt" and cost "upwards of $10 million," a commerce expert says.

Heavy frosts expected tonight could lead to treacherous driving conditions in the morning.

The bitterly cold snap that has brought snow and freezing conditions to many places is set to ease today, with warmer temperatures and clearer skies expected.

As winter sets in Kiwis are being urged to take care with their gumboots after injury complaints were made for everything from bent fingers to strained groins.

A polar blast that closed schools, cut power, cancelled flights and mail deliveries and caused chaos on roads will continue to chill New Zealand this morning.

Grim-faced and shaking his head in shock at the scale of the destruction, Barack Obama walked through the tornado-ravaged Oklahoma City suburb of Moor.

President Barack Obama vowed that the United States would stand behind Oklahoma as it struggled to fill the "empty spaces" left by the devastating tornado.

Delegates at the USNZ Pacific Partnership Forum meeting in Washington DC have expressed sorrow at the loss of life in the Oklahoma tornado.

Many houses have "just been taken away. They're just sticks and bricks," Gov. Mary Fallin said, describing the 27 kilometre path of destruction.

Soon after a monstrous, deadly tornado slammed into the community of Moore, Tiffany Thronesberry's phone rang. Her mother was screaming down the line.