'Severe' thunderstorm warning, possible tornadoes for upper North Island

Thursday, 22 August 2019

A Takanini shop owner said the hail was 'just crazy'.

Powerful wind gusts and possible tornadoes are expected overnight in parts of the upper North Island.

MetService on Thursday night said it was possible thunderstorms in Northland could become 'severe' and generate damaging wind gusts of more than 110 kmh.

'There is also a possibility of a few tornadoes developing,' MetService said in a severe thunderstorm watch issued at 11pm.

Any tornadoes would probably affect 'very localised areas,' MetService added. Wind gusts or squally conditions could damage trees, power lines and make driving hazardous.

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Thunderstorms could strike with severity and may cause structural damage overnight, MetService has warned.

The capricious conditions stemming from an approaching low pressure system were bringing thunderstorms to Northland – but violent weather could strike areas to the south too.

MetService's latest national weather forecast.

In Auckland, the Hauraki Gulf islands, Coromandel, Waikato and Waitomo, thunderstorms were also expected.

'There is a chance that these thunderstorms may become severe early Friday morning,' MetService added.

'People in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening weather conditions and monitor for possible severe thunderstorm warnings.'

The MetService warning was expected to stay in place until 4am on Friday.

The latest warning follows a bout of tempestuous weather including hailstorms in Auckland on Thursday.

Stores flooded at Sylvia Park mall and a tree has fallen on a car following heavy downpours.

NIWA said there had been 3659 lightning strikes off the northern Northland coast in just over two and a half hours.

Earlier, MetService meteorologist Curtis Hayes said the weekend should at least have more agreeable weather.

A front is forecast to move north over the South Island on Sunday bringing a period of rain to the West Coast. Winds are expected to strengthen as the front moves north across the North Island on Monday.