a 'tornado' has been spotted in East Auckland this afternoon as warnings are issued.
Video / Supplied
A “possible tornado” has been spotted over East Auckland this afternoon, but a severe thunderstorm warning issued for parts of the city has now been cancelled.
Further heavy showers are expected across Auckland into the early evening as the weakened thunderstorm system moves into the northern Firth of Thames,MetService said.
Video sent to the Herald shows what appears to be a large funnel cloud visible from an East Auckland park as children jog nearby.
MetService severe weather expert, meteorologist John Crouch, told the Herald he saw the video of the tornado-like cloud in East Auckland.
“There has been quite an intense thunderstorm in eastern parts of Auckland.
Forecasters were expecting the weather to clear as it started to move off the East Coast into the southern part of the Gulf.
The man who filmed the tornado-like video told the Herald he was attending his daughter’s athletics event at Lloyd Elsmore Park in Pakūranga when he spotted the large funnel cloud in the sky.
“I’m looking over towards Whitford area and you just saw a funnel cloud.”
He described the experience as “quite surreal” because he did not know severe weather was expected in the area.
Nearby parents eventually took notice of the tornado-like cloud, although they were more focused on their children’s event.
A possible tornado spotted over the Pakuranga, East Auckland this afternoon. Photo / Lauren Hawken
Earlier severe thunderstorm warning issued by MetService
The thunderstorm warning was earlier issued for the Franklin area and was expected to last until 4.07pm, MetService said, with a similar warning issued for Auckland City until 3.45pm.
The thunderstorms were expected to be accompanied by heavy rain and “possible tornadoes”.
Severe thunderstorms were detected near Clevedon, Whitford and Brookby at 2.45pm, with more thunderstorms detected near Maraetai, Clevedon and Whitford at 3.07pm.
The thunderstorms were moving eastward and expected to lie near Maraetai and Waiheke Island at 4.07pm.
Meanwhile, a severe thunderstorm watch remains in place for Coromandel Peninsula until 9am Sunday.
‼️⚠️Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for Auckland City and Franklin. These severe thunderstorms are moving towards the east, and are expected to lie near MARAETAI, CLEVEDON, WHITFORD and BROOKBY at 03:15 pm and near MARAETAI, CLEVEDON and KAWAKAWA BAY at 03:45 pm.… pic.twitter.com/P2Dtr5o1Pv
“Very heavy rain can cause surface and/or flash flooding about streams, gullies and urban areas, and make driving conditions extremely hazardous,” MetService said.
As storms approach, people are advised to take shelter indoors, move cars under cover, secure any loose objects and check their drains are clear.
During and after a storm, people should beware of fallen trees and power lines and avoid streams and drains in case of flash flooding, the National Emergency Management Agency said.
