Multiple waterspouts over the Hauraki Gulf this morning. Photo / Claire Jefferson

Wild weather: Waterspouts and tornado, lightning warning

Author: NZ Herald,
Publish Date: Tue, 23 Apr 2019, 8:45am

Waterspouts have been spotted in Auckland this morning as Waiheke Island is battered by a heavy thunderstorm.

WeatherWatch.co.nz said waterspouts had been reported in Auckland Harbour and the Hauraki Gulf.

Waiheke Island has been hammered by thunderstorms this morning.

Auckland: Here's the 821am radar grab of the line of thunderstorms currently affecting Waiheke. These have produced a weak waterspout, helped along by the warmer waters of the Gulf, and some lightning. Vessels in the area should obviously avoid the area. Any Qs, please ask ^GG pic.twitter.com/3b1bcHOtvp
— MetService (@MetService) April 22, 2019

"Extreme care is required due to cloud to ground lightning, localised flooding and the chance of a tornado."

Watching a #waterspout in the Rangitoto Channel @MetService @NiwaWeather @WeatherWatchNZ pic.twitter.com/dsP5RpPSCE
— Ruth (@edrucationz) April 22, 2019

Waterspouts are a whirling column of air and water mist, often formed when there is relatively warm ocean temperatures, much cooler air temperatures and relatively (ambient) light wind.

Watching a #waterspout in the Rangitoto Channel @MetService @NiwaWeather @WeatherWatchNZ pic.twitter.com/dsP5RpPSCE
— Ruth (@edrucationz) April 22, 2019