New Zealand

Multiple New Zealand houses damaged by tornado

June 5, 2019 11:57 am

At least 10 houses in Northland settlement have been damaged by a tornado this morning.

A Fire and Emergency spokesperson said 10-12 houses in the Cooper’s Bay area have been damaged, with some roofs lifted by a tornado this morning.

MetService said a band of heavy rain with embedded thunderstorms was currently moving southeastwards over Northland and should reach Auckland this afternoon.

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Strong wind warnings have been in place for Auckland, Wellington and Marlborough Sounds today, with gusts of 100 km/h possible in Auckland and 120km/h in Wellington and Marlborough.

Earlier, MetService warned some thunderstorms could bring damaging winds with gusts greater than 110 km/h and there was also a risk of a damaging tornado.

Wind gusts of this strength can damage trees and power lines and may make driving hazardous, MetService said.

MetService forecaster Amy Rossiter said there was some uncertainty about the path of the low-pressure system and where exactly will be most affected.

“But most of the North Island will get some sort of rain or heavy winds associated with it,” she said.

NZTA warned motorists to take care in the stormy weather conditions and allow extra time for travel.

The low-pressure system is due to bring heavy downpours to many parts of the North Island and the far north of the South Island.

As it moved to the east of the North Island later in the day, strong cold southerly winds are forecast to spread north across central and northern New Zealand, with heavy snow possible above 500m for eastern Marlborough.