Unsettled conditions could mark a turning point for our summer weather, forecasters say.

In the third of our series, Alanah May Eriksen recalls her family's flight from a storm-battered camping ground.

A short-sharp barrage of rain and hail pummelled Invercargill today leaving the city looking like a scene from mid-winter.

Extreme weather brings hope of end to decade-long drought.

Damaging gales have hit the bottom of the South Island this afternoon and are moving north.

Fiji will today start cleaning up and counting the cost after Cyclone Mick swept across the Pacific nation yesterday.

Hailstones the size of marbles fell from the sky as thunderstorm season begins in Canterbury.

Parts of the North Island are set for a soaking today, with up to 140mms of rain expected to fall in some areas.

Northland and Auckland could be in for wind gusts of 120km an hour and a small tornado while heavy rains are set to hit further south.

A large depression is moving towards the central North Island and Waikato, bringing with it plenty of rain.

Families heading home from the school holidays are warned to expect delays as the weekend brings rain, thunder, gales and even snow to much of the country.

At one point, an average of 75,000 tonnes of dust was being dumped each hour into the Tasman Sea, researchers say.

The North Island has been warned to expect more thunderstorms tonight, and possibly tornadoes as well.

When the Fire Service called John Weatherley and told him there was a problem at home he thought his house must have burned down.