The risk of thunderstorms and tornadoes will continue today across the country after a wild start to the school holidays.

This morning is expected to see an increase to a moderate thunderstorm danger for Northland, Auckland and Waikato, with rain intensities of 10 to 25 mm/h, MetService forecasts.

The majority of the North Island and the northwest of the South Island are at lower risk levels.

Throughout the second half of today, the weather continues to be unstable across New Zealand.

Thunderstorms with locally heavy rain of 10 to 25 mm/h are possible from Northland to Taranaki, including Auckland, and in the Bay of Plenty.

“These thunderstorms are expected to be accompanied by very heavy rain, damaging wind gusts, possible tornadoes and frequent lightning,” MetService reports.

A firefighter working to secure the roof of a house, damaged by the tornado, on Arundel Ave, Paraparaumu. Photo / Mark Mitchell

“Very heavy rain can cause surface and/or flash flooding about streams, gullies and urban areas, and make driving conditions extremely hazardous. Very strong wind gusts can break branches from trees, damage roofing, and make driving hazardous, especially for high-sided vehicles and motorcycles.”

“Tornadic winds” will also make driving hazardous, as they may cause some structural damage, notably to trees and electrical lines, but any tornadoes would only affect very localised areas, MetService said.

 “Should severe weather approach or if you feel threatened, take shelter immediately,” MetService advises.

A mum and three kids took shelter in a hallway as a “violent” tornado barrelled past their home toppling trees and poles, and causing “significant” damage to a Bay of Plenty kiwifruit orchard last evening.

Yesterday morning, a tornado sent a sleepout containing a teenager airborne, crushing the building and impaling the teen.

Rhiley Stevens, 16, required surgery to remove a piece of his bedroom that lodged in his chest.

His mother Jade spoke to the Herald from Wellington Hospital and said the sleepout was lifted by the high winds, and then dumped back down and destroyed.

“He’s lucky to be alive – the whole bedroom is just completely destroyed.”

New Zealand has been hit by four tornadoes in three consecutive days, with no other reported injuries but property also damaged in east Auckland, the Nelson region and Taranaki.

Additionally, nearly 9000 lightning strikes were detected over New Zealand over 24 hours yesterday afternoon as a cluster of thunderstorms moved south.

A third of those strikes were recorded in the Nelson region, with another 1000 recorded over the Bay of Plenty, MetService said.

Debris on Aorangi Rd Paraparaumu after a tornado ripped through the area. Photo / Supplied

Niwa principal scientist Chris Brandolino told The AM Show that thunderstorms will continue throughout the week.

“They’ll be gradually easing but still with us,” he said.

Brandolino said there is a chance that the bad weather will clear on the weekend but next week’s forecast looks to be rainy again.

“There could be another heavy rain producer.”

He said the number of tornadoes that have hit the country is unusual but not unheard of, with the country getting seven to 10 moderate to strong tornadoes a year.