Another Severe Thunderstorm Watch & more wind & rain

The MetService has issued another Severe Thunderstorm Watch affecting much of the country, so expect more of this weekend's weather through tomorrow as well, easing by Tuesday afternoon.

The thunderstorms can bring very heavy rain, so watch for surface flooding and rising streams & rivers. There's also the possibility of very localised strong wind gusts and tornadoes, just like yesterday's one in Waikanae.

Also expect severe NW gales overnight tonight with wind speeds of 70km/h gusting to 140km/h in exposed places.

Winds that strong can damage buildings, trees & powerlines and make driving dangerous.

It's all a bit of a nasty mix, so take extra care when you are out and about over the next couple of days!

Tornado in Kapiti

Unfortunatley, one thing that comes with severe thunderstorms is the possibility of tornadoes - and one has hit the Kapiti Coast, causing a bit of damage and sending a person to hospital.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/5261305/Tornado-hits-Kapiti-Coast

I know some of our council staff live up that way, so hopefully they are all okay!

Severe Thunderstorm Watch

The latest in from our friends at the MetService

Two fronts are expected to cross the North Island today. The first lies at mid morning from Waitomo to the northwest, and is expected to clear the East Cape area this evening. A second front lying over the upper South Island is expected to intensify this afternoon and may organise into a squall line as it crosses the upper North Island late afternoon/early evening to lie east of East Cape by late evening.

There is a high risk of quite squally thunderstorms on both of these features as they cross the west and north of the North Island.

Over the Kapiti Coast to Taranaki, and from Waitomo/Waikato north, and also over northern Coromandel Peninsula, central and eastern Bay of Plenty and far northern Gisborne, some of these thunderstorms may be SEVERE due to thepotential for damaging wind gusts to 130km/hr or so. There is also a risk of a tornado.

Wind gusts of this strength can cause some structural damage, including trees and power lines, and may make driving hazardous. If any tornados occur, they will only affect very localised areas.

Should severe weather approach or if you feel threatened, take shelter immediately.

Issued by: Paul Mallinson
This watch will be updated by: 02:30 pm Friday 17 September 2010

Tornado in Cambridge

A mini tornado ripped through Cambridge early this morning, lifting roofs, downing trees and leaving the area without power as a number of power lines were downed. Emergency services said they received around 30 calls between 3am and 3.30am, when the tornado travelled in a near straight line through the middle of the town. The Fire Service says up to 100 houses have been affected. No one is believed to have been hurt but Cambridge chief fire officer, Don Gerrand, said damage was widespread, and many homes and parts of Cambridge were without power at first light.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4730293a19715.html
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4730293a11.html

We're not in Kansas anymore, Toto...

Nope, Dorothy's still in New Plymouth. A small tornado went through New Plymouth this morning. Police said the tornado hit suburban Bell Block shortly after midnight. There was some property damage, including roofs blown off and power lines down, but no reports of any injuries, or anyone ending up in Oz.