• Wild weather is bearing down over the country with MetService issuing heavy wind warnings for the west of the South Island and the middle of the country.
• Levin and Waikawa beach have suffered bad damage from two tornadoes early this morning.
• More strong winds are expected with 120km/h gusts forecast for the South Island.

Emergency crews are on the ground in Horowhenua assessing damage after two tornadoes struck the region this morning leaving Holiday Park guests “shaken and needing a good hug”.

Severe weather has struck the lower North Island with 90km/h gusts recorded in the capital and two tornadoes leaving a trail of damage in Levin and Waikawa beach.

MetService is warning the worst is yet to come with 120km/h winds tipped to blow through western areas of the South Island and central areas in the north.

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MetService meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane said strong winds were forecast to move across Aotearoa today.

“We have a low-pressure system that is expected to cross the country and be sitting east of the country.”

A strong wind watch has been issued for Wellington and the Marlborough Sounds, where 90km/h gusts blustered through the region during rush hour.

MetService said the winds were peaking during the morning or beginning to ramp up to peak at midday.

MetService is also forecasting wave heights to reach 4.5m along the Kāpiti-Porirua Coast. The agency reported the waves would smash the coastline every 11 seconds at their peak.

Swells along the coast would peak at 3.5m this morning before easing this afternoon.

Further south, gusts are blowing through Banks Peninsula at 85km/h, with MetService reporting the worst was yet to come. 

“The real action begins when the winds turn southwest later this morning.” 

A strong wind warning with gusts approaching 120km/h in exposed areas will come into effect at 11am. 

A strong wind watch is also in place for Wairarapa including the Tararua District, Hawke’s Bay, Tasman northwest of Motueka and the Chatham Islands. 

Makgabutlane said western parts of the country could also see thunderstorms. 

According to MetService, there is a moderate risk of thunderstorms for the west and southern parts of the South Island this morning with a possible 10-20mm/h of rain and hail. 

There is also a moderate risk of thunderstorms on the west coast of the North Island and Wellington region with the possibility of 10-20mm/h of rain. 

Makgabutlane said the affected regions were forecast to see a swift drop in temperature. 

The eastern South Island’s maximum temperatures were expected to fall from the mid to low 20s into the 10s, she said. 

The top half of the North Island was not off the hook as the low-pressure system would bring a front with it. 

“That front is expected to bring some rainfall for the North Island and some of that rainfall is expected to move across the upper part of the North Island as well.”