There have been reports of damage to several properties in central Otago this afternoon, following severe winds that struck Clyde and Alexandra.
Emergency services were called to a "weather event" at about 3:20pm on Tuesday.
A video of the event provided to Newshub shows a wind gust ripping up a roof.
Roof material is seen flying high into the air, onto the road, and into neighbouring properties.
"Two crews were initially sent out, with one truck in Clyde and one in Alexandra," a Fire and Emergency spokesperson told Newshub.
MetService forecaster Paul Ngamanu said today's forecast has seen strong winds through central Otago where the gust has occurred.
"It is likely that the winds have possibly been way stronger than we had anticipated," he said.
"We aren't sure what sort of wind was ripping through Clyde as we don't have a station there, however there were reports of up to 65km/h gusts in Alexandra."
Despite some people describing the event as a 'tornado' or 'twister', Ngamanu reassured the public that neither is the correct term.
"I would describe this event as a very very strong wind gust, it is definitely not a tornado," he said.
MetService received reports today from their main centre in Invercargill, showing wind gusts of up to 93km/h per hour.
"To take a roof off a house would mean the winds would have to be intense".
