A tornado has hit the Kapiti Coast and power was briefly cut to Wellington CBD as wild weather hits the lower North Island.
MetService said there were 1300 lightning strikes across the lower North Island over a period of two hours.
If you have any videos or photos of the wild weather and tornado, please send it to news@newshub.co.nz
What you need to know:
- A small tornado hit Waikanae and Paraparaumu on the Kapiti Coast just before 1pm on Thursday.
- Kapiti Coast District Council says 12 homes have reported damage.
- A severe thunderstorm watch is in place for Waitomo, Taranaki, Whanganui, Manawatū, Kāpiti-Horowhenua and Wellington.
These updates are now finished.
4:32pm - Ashhurst local Scott Groves went down to the Ashhurst park and said the "debris trail is 1km long and 100m wide. [An] eyewitness at campground described funnel lifting in front of them"
4:24pm - Waka Kotahi is urging motorists to take "extra care" when driving as wet weather batters parts of the motu.
4:08pm - A park in Ashhurst near Palmerston North is closed after strong winds tore the roof off the Ashhurst Domain changing sheds.
The Facebook post shows parts of the roof scattered across the park's lawn.
3:29pm - Kapiti Coast District Council group manager regulatory services James Jefferson told Newshub the number of homes damaged has climbed to 12.
"Fire and Emergency has advised there is damage to an estimated three to four houses in Waikanae and six to eight Paraparaumu."
Jefferson said Fire and Emergency are assisting the council in providing welfare assistance to those impacted.
"There has been some damage to railway barrier arms in Paraparaumu and Otaihanga and we are in touch with KiwiRail about this. These have been causing some traffic issues in those areas, but the arm at Kāpiti Road has been repaired."
The council is encouraging people to "hunker down" and follow advice from Wellington Region Emergency Management Office.
2:51pm - The owner of the building told Newshub the whole building shook, he said it felt like an earthquake and it's lucky no one is seriously hurt.
2:37pm - Pictures from on the ground in Waikanae show a large Norfolk pine branch impaling the roof of what looks like a mechanic workshop.
2:23pm - One man told Newshub he had to hide in a train station when the tornado hit.
"I heard it coming. Had to crouch down and hold onto the pedestrian barrier post on the railway station as it went through... Freaky force."
In a video the man filmed a loud emergency siren can be heard ringing.
2:05pm - Waka Kotahi is advising Auckland motorists to reduce their speed when driving over the Auckland Harbour Bridge as wind gusts pick up.
2:00pm - What looks like a stormwater manhole on Lambton Quay in Wellington has water gushing out of it. A video shared on Youtube shows the water flooding out onto the footpath.
1:50pm - Fire and Emergency received multiple calls just after 1pm about what was described as a small tornado hitting Waikanae and Paraparaumu.
A Fire and Emergency spokesperson told Newshub seven houses have reported damage so far, five in Paraparaumu and two in Waikanae.
The spokesperson added a tree fell on a couple of cars in Waikanae, leaving one person inside a car with some injuries.
Seven fire appliances are attending the weather event.
1:39pm - Arborist company Mr Chipper in Waikanae told Newshub that the tornado caused a tree to go through the roof of their yard and damaged one of their trucks.
Mr Chipper said one of their staff members received minor injuries.
1:33pm - Wellington Electric said there are 401 customers with power outages in the Wellington region.
1:30pm - A Paraparaumu resident told Newshub she was "trying to save my dog and he nearly got taken away."
"My trampoline and swing set is bolted to the ground and they moved a lot but didn’t go anywhere, only thing is our bird feeder that was screwed to the fence," Paraparaumu resident Monique Schipper told Newshub.
"This is across the road from me the car was moved front wheels into the ditch."
South Island
Heavy snow is expected to fall on one of the South Island's most iconic roads while damaging tornados and huge swells could hit the North Island on Thursday.
A heavy snow watch has been issued for the Canterbury high country down to just south of Queenstown until 6am on Friday.
The area could see a brief period of heavy snow above 700 metres.
MetService has issued a road snowfall warning for Crown Range Road, Lindis Pass (SH8) and Milford Road (SH94) and is predicting half a metre of snow to fall on the three roads.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency said the Milford Road (SH94) will close at 4:30pm on Thursday from the East Gate to West Gate and they'll attempt to reopen it when conditions allow.
A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for Nelson, Buller and Westland until 9am on Thursday.
MetService warned the area could see one or two small or damaging tornadoes while localised heavy rain, hail and squally wind gusts are also expected.
"Between midnight Wednesday and 9am Thursday, there is a risk that a few of these thunderstorms could be severe with large hail, damaging wind gusts in excess of 110 km/h, and one or two small or damaging tornadoes," MetService said.
"Large hail can cause significant damage to crops, orchards, vines, glasshouses and vehicles, as well as make driving conditions hazardous.
"Wind gusts of this strength can cause some structural damage, including to trees and power lines, and may make driving hazardous. If any tornadoes occur, they will only affect very localised areas."
A heavy rain watch has been issued for Tasman, the northern Marlborough Sounds and Westland south of Okarito, which could bring periods of heavy rain and possible thunderstorms.
"More significant snow is then expected to affect the road from late this evening to late Friday evening, where 40 to 50cm of snow may accumulate above about 600 metres with lesser amounts down to about 400 metres."
North Island
The North Island doesn't escape the bad weather with a severe thunderstorm watch issued for Waitomo, Taranaki, Wanganui, Manawatu, Kapiti-Horowhenua and Wellington until 2pm on Thursday.
MetService said scattered thunderstorms are expected to affect the western parts of the North Island south of Waikato until Thursday evening bringing localised heavy rain, hail and squally wind gusts.
"There is a risk that a few of these thunderstorms could be severe south of Raglan with damaging wind gusts in excess of 110 km/h, and one or two small or damaging tornadoes," MetService said.
"Wind gusts of this strength can cause some structural damage, including to trees and power lines, and may make driving hazardous. If any tornadoes occur, they will only affect very localised areas."
A heavy rain warning has been issued for Horowhenua south of Levin, Wellington north of the Ngauranga Gorge and the Tararua Range until 6pm on Thursday.
MetService said these areas could expect up to 100mm of rain, which could cause streams and rivers to rise rapidly. Surface flooding and slips are also possible and driving conditions may be hazardous.
A heavy swell warning has been issued for the Kapiti-Porirua Coast and as far north as Otaki with waves rising to as high as 4.5 metres.
