More bad weather is expected with damage still left over from the storm earlier this week. (Photo / NZH)

Live: Tornado hits New Plymouth as wind batters North Island

Author: NZ Herald,
Publish Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2018, 8:43pm

A tornado has struck Taranaki this evening which shocked residents say sounded like a freight train roaring past.

It comes amid warning for Upper North Island residents to brace for another wild night amid forecasts of thunderstorms, hail, heavy rain, lightning and tornadoes.

More than 22,000 Auckland homes remain without power or hot water tonight following Tuesday's devastating storm.

Taranaki Civil Defence is reporting a localised tornado in New Plymouth in the Strandon area.

Civil Defence said police are currently assessing the damage. It is warning people to stay indoors.

West Aucklanders in particular are being warned of "damaging winds" that will be highly localised.

Fire Emergency New Zealand in Auckland said there had already been a few callouts for trees down because of the wind, but it was nothing in comparison to Tuesday's weather event.

MetService meteorologist Georgina Griffiths said tonight's weather is expected to be different to the Tuesday's destructive storm. People living in eastern or central parts of Auckland are unlikely to experience gusts as large as previously seen.

Meanwhile, many homes in Auckland are still without power.

Vector said in a statement that it expects power to be restored to majority of homes in the following suburbs by midnight tonight:

Albany, Albany Heights, Albany North, Alfriston, Ardmore, Arkles Bay, Auckland Central, Avondale, Avondale South, Balmoral, Bayswater, Bayview, Beach Haven, Belmont, Birkdale, Birkenhead, Botany Downs, Botany Downs South, Browns Bay, Campbells Bay, Castor Bay, Chatswood, Clevedon, Coatesville, Crown Hill, Devonport, East Tamaki Heights, Fairview Heights, Favona, Flat Bush, Forrest Hill, Freemans Bay, Glendene, Glenfield, Glen Innes, Glorit, Greenhithe, Greenlane, Grey Lynn, Hauraki, Hillpark, Hillsborough, Hobsonville, Howick, Kawakawa Bay, Konini, Long Bay, Lucas Heights, Mairangi Bay, Matakana, Milford, Northcote, Northcote Point, Northcote West, Northcross, Okura, Onepoto, Red Beach, Silverdale, Snells Beach, Stanmore Bay, Sunnynook, Tahekeroa, Takapuna, Takatu, Tauhoa, Te Atatu Peninsula, Te Atatu South, Te Hana, Tindalls Beach, Torbay, Torbay Heights, Unsworth Heights, Waiake, Wairau Park, Waiwera, Warkworth, Wellsford, Western Heights, Westgate, Westlake, Whangaparaoa

The following ssuburbsare unlikely to see power restored before the end of tomorrow:

Bethells Beach, Brookby, Dairy Flat, Dome Forest, Dome Valley, Epsom, Glen Eden, Green Bay, Helensville, Henderson, Henderson Valley, Huapai, Huia, Ihumatao, Kaipara, Kaipara Flats, Kakanui, Karekare, Kaukapakapa, Kelston, Kumeu, Laingholm, Lynfield North, Mahurangi, Massey, Massey orth, Mt Roskill, Mt Wellington North, New Lynn, New Lynn West, Omaha, Parakai, Parau, Paremoremo, Piha, Puhoi, Ranui, Redvale, Riverhead, South Head, Stillwater, Sunnyvale, Swanson, Tapora, Taupaki, Titirangi, Titirangi North, Titirangi South, Waiatarua, Waimauku, Wainui, Waitakere, Waitoki, Whitford