A tornado has been captured on camera tearing across the Waikato.
Photos and video were shot by multiple people showing the weather event forming, before moving off and ripping soil from the ground.
One photo was captured by Waikato dairy farmer Sam Owen on Monday around Hamilton’s rural outskirts.
It shows a large ring of debris rising from the ground towards the dark swirl of clouds above.
Hamilton student Tawny Madison was driving home when she saw the tornado and pulled over to film it.
"Well, that's not something you see everyday," she posted to Facebook.
Weather Watch says more isolated tornados are possible this afternoon, and warns they could be "deadly and damaging".
"More isolated tornados are possible this afternoon in the upper North Island due to instability in the atmosphere plus warmer than average weather," it says.
"Downpours are likely to come on very quickly and end just as fast. Surface and flash flooding are both possible in localised areas."
If you see a tornado coming your way immediately get into a closet or small room, or in the bathtub, until it has passed.
Newshub.
