A tornado has tipped over a caravan, slightly injuring one person at a remote South Island camping ground overnight, and wind gusts of up to 135 kilometres an hour have been clocked in Auckland today.
Fire and Emergency were called to the Gentle Annie Seaside Campground in Mokihinui, in Buller District 47km north of Westport, just after 1am with reports a tornado had tipped a caravan.
Campground owner Jesse Paley-Atkins told the Herald an “isolated twister” caused the caravan to tip over.
“Besides a sore shoulder the couple in the tipped caravan are fine and well”, he said, via text message.
“It wasn’t an area-wide storm - just a random event. The rest of the camping ground and area were unaffected. Fine sunny day here today.”
Wild spring weather sparked by a west-to-southwest cold front has already made its presence felt in the upper North Island today.
A Waikato town was earlier forced to cancel its A & P Show, and a tree came down at a suburban Auckland house.
Squally showers and blustery winds have been passing across our biggest city this morning and early afternoon.
Wind gusts reached 135km/h at Great Barrier Island and 130km/h at Muriwai, tweeted the Hauraki Gulf Weather page on X, formerly Twitter, just after 2pm.
In South Auckland, Pukekohe recorded 127km/h while Waitakere Ranges peaked at 105km/h.
Notable wind gusts today across parts of the upper North to 2pm
Notable wind gusts today across parts of the upper North to 2pm
— Hauraki Gulf Weather (@HaurakiGulfWx) September 30, 2023
135 km/h (73 knots) Great Barrier Island
130 km/h (70 knots) Muriwai
127 km/h (68 knots) Pukekohe
105 km/h (57 knots) Waitakere Ranges
Source: Auckland council environmental data portal
Image: Squall line… pic.twitter.com/JN4ItoEJTg
Earlier today, some city ferry services were disrupted.
“Due to the weather conditions, the Northcote Point and Birkenhead stops on the following Inner Harbour Loop ferry service have been replaced by taxi,” Auckland Transport tweeted at 11.30am.
“The Bayswater ferry will still run. From Downtown: 11:40. From Northcote Point: 11:58.From Birkenhead: 12:05.”
Incoming... pic.twitter.com/ooInA4JcTr
— NIWA Weather (@NiwaWeather) September 29, 2023
The at-times atrocious conditions already had one Wellingtonian publicly lamenting his trip north.
“Hello Auckland, been here 3 days”, the man wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
“If I wanted Wellington weather….. we would have stayed at home!”
But neither has the capital escaped nature’s impact - flooding has closed the right lane along Kent Tce approaching Basin Reserve, Waka Kotahi NZTA Wellington tweeted at 11am.
“Pass with care and expect some delays through the area.”
Meanwhile, there have been snow showers in Queenstown, MetService tweeted this morning.
At Morrinsville Recreation Ground in Waikato, Matamata A & P Show organisers first cancelled the equestrian section, due to surface flooding, before canning the entire event.
It was to be the town’s 110th show.
“Really feel for the organisers and competitors”, wrote a poster on the New Zealand Equestrian Scene Facebook page.
In Auckland, Fire and Emergency were called to a home in Athenic Ave, Lynfield, after a tree came down just before 9.30am.
A Fire and Emergency Northern Communications spokeswoman did have any details, but police said no injuries have been reported.
“Wet weather across the North Island and some of the South Island in a strong, cold, unstable southwest flow”, MetService tweeted just before 10am.
“Thunderstorms are possible northwest of Taihape until evening, and down south there have been snow showers in Queenstown.”
Road snow warnings are in place for the Desert Road (SH1) until 4pm today, and the Milford Road (SH94) until 7am tomorrow.
Road Snow Warnings are in place for the Desert Road (SH1) 11am-4pm today, and the Milford Road (SH94) 11am today - 7am Sunday. Details here: https://t.co/qHyE5zzql5
— MetService (@MetService) September 29, 2023
Radar update 📡⛈
— MetService (@MetService) September 29, 2023
Wet weather across the North Island and some of the South Island in a strong, cold, unstable southwest flow. Thunderstorms are possible northwest of Taihape until evening, and down south there have been snow showers in Queenstown ❄
⚠ https://t.co/qHyE5zzql5 pic.twitter.com/va288VYk9h
The top of the country was earlier under a severe thunderstorm watch as a strong west-to-southwest cold front was forecast to affect central and northern areas of New Zealand today.
Northland and Auckland have been under a severe thunderstorm watch, which was due to expire at 10am this morning, and a red severe thunderstorm warning was briefly in place for central Northland before being lifted around 7.30am.
Lightning data showed numerous strikes over Northland before 7am.
⚠⚡There is a Severe Thunderstorm Watch over Northland and Auckland this morning, and a RED Severe Thunderstorm Warning for the line of severe thunderstorms active over central Northland. These thunderstorms are likely bringing very heavy rain, damaging wind gusts and hail.… pic.twitter.com/gZ4jerxreO
— MetService (@MetService) September 29, 2023
Strong winds and thunderstorms are expected to lash the country today with a strong west-to-southwest cold front forecast to affect central and northern areas.
A strong wind watch is already in place for Northland, Auckland and the Coromandel until midnight tonight, where certain parts of Auckland could see gusts of up to 90-100km/h.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency issued a red alert for the Auckland Harbour Bridge until 8am this morning.
An amber alert has also been issued for most of the day, between 8am and 8pm, with wind gusts of 75-85km/h forecast.
Here's a look at forecast wind gust 🌬️ for Saturday.
— NIWA Weather (@NiwaWeather) September 29, 2023
Areas of damaging wind gusts are possible, especially where gusts reach 100+ km/h (🔴).
Strongest gusts likely occurs with heavy showers or thunderstorms.
Be good to bring in any outside furniture or secure lose items. pic.twitter.com/g3q2cEUrWq
A Waka Kotahi spokesperson said under an amber alert, speed limits may be reduced and some lanes on the bridge may close, while under a red alert, all lanes on the bridge may close.
“Motorists are urged to drive to the conditions, look out for the electronic message boards which will indicate lane closures and reduced speeds, and stay within their lane while travelling across the bridge.”
Drivers of high-sided vehicles and motorcyclists are advised to avoid the Auckland Harbour Bridge and use the western ring route on State Highways 16 and 18.
For the rest of the North Island, it is going to be quite a wintry day with strong winds expected, said MetService forecaster Mmathapleo Mahgabutlane.
“So it’s a very indoor day on Saturday - except for those going and watching the Black Ferns v Australia in Hamilton,” she said.
“Everywhere else it’s going to be a cold, windy and showery day all around.”
MetService has also issued heavy swell warnings for the bottom of the North Island where rough sea conditions may be seen around the coastline.
“With the southwesterly, it could be a very cold and biting wind,” Mahgabutlane said.
Heavy Swell Warning 🌊🟠
— MetService (@MetService) September 29, 2023
Strong southerly winds push heavy swells onto southern Wellington and Wairarapa coasts. Waves are expected to peak at 5 metres late Saturday afternoon, then ease overnight.
⚠ Take care near the coast, and keep up to date here: https://t.co/qHyE5zzql5 pic.twitter.com/9G63QXDhji
“Check in with @WakaKotahiWgtn and @WakaKotahiCNI before heading out on roads near these coasts”, MetService tweeted just before 11.30am.
South Island residents can expect similar conditions, with those in the deepest south forecast to see the worst.
In the west, thunderstorms are possible for Buller and Westland, while Nelson may see some isolated showers. For the rest of the island, there could be some snowfalls out to the east.
“There are some showery conditions expected that could bring snowfalls down to about 200 metres overnight in Southland in Clutha.”
Road snowfall warnings are in place for the North Island’s Desert Rd and Milford Rd and Crown Range Rd in the South Island.
The wintry conditions are expected to ease by this evening and clearer conditions are expected for most of the country tomorrow.
“Temperatures will also start to increase on Sunday, especially in the east and towards Wellington that will start to go back into the mid-teens,” said Mahgabutlane.