• A tornado in Hamilton caused significant damage, with roofs ripped off and trampolines airborne. 
• MetService reported 13,000 lightning strikes and snow in Otago, issuing warnings for several roads. 
• A cooler long weekend is expected, with showers and breezy southwesterlies in coastal and southern areas. 

A young Hamilton family say they felt the “strongest winds ever” as a tornado ripped past their home, sending trees and fences tumbling down, ripping off roofs and causing trampolines to fly through the air. 

Ranui St resident Jordan Ridgeway said her young family was “terrified” as the tornado came through. 

“It went from there being literally no wind at all to the strongest wind we have ever felt.” 

Ridgeway said there was a “loud bang” and when her husband went out to investigate, he saw the “wind swirling around in circles”. 

She said her 3-year-old daughter was “panicking” as their trampoline was flown around, tiles came down off their roof and trees and fences came tumbling down. 

“Our neighbour’s tramp is completely gone, we tried looking for it at the other neighbouring properties and we can’t find it, it must have gone really far.” 

A tornado struck Hamilton last night, felling fences and sending trampolines airborne. Photo / Jordan Ridgeway. 

She said her neighbour’s roof was partially ripped off by the tornado, and it was unfortunate that it was bin day yesterday as now rubbish was left strewn up and down the street. 

“It’s going to be a big cleanup today.” 

MetService meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane said there was no sign of tornadoes today but some wild weather would continue in the bottom of the country. 

Makgabutlane said it had been a week of “very active weather” with some crazy statistics coming through. 

Locals say there is a big cleanup ahead for the community today. Photo / Jordan Ridgeway. 

She said there had been 13,000 lightning strikes in the past 24 hours, although some of these struck over the ocean. 

Today, snow is falling in inland areas of Otago, prompting MetService to issue a warning for the Lindis Pass (SH8), Crown Range Rd and Milford Rd (SH94) from this morning until late tonight. 

A strong west-to-southwest flow is tipped to strike regions across the South Island and Hawke’s Bay. A strong wind watch is in place for Hawke’s Bay, from Napier southwards and the Tararua District from midday and for Hawke’s Bay, from Napier southwards and the Tararua District from this afternoon. 

Further north, Makgabutlane said the central areas of the North Island, along with Northland and Auckland, would see some respite today with a few showers possible in western areas. 

What’s in store for King’s Birthday weekend? 

Makgabutlane told the Herald that Kiwis should expect a “noticeable cooler feeling” in the air as winter begins this weekend. 

She said that would be because of a southwesterly flow over the country. 

Makgabutlane said overall, the long weekend was not looking like a washout at this stage, but there would be periods of showers. 

She said coastal areas in the western parts of the country, as well as the lower South Island, could have breezy southwesterlies, which might create some large waves. 

“That’s maybe a bit of an early heads-up for anybody who is thinking about being near the coast in those areas.”