Wild Weather Hits North Island: Tornadoes Strike Ōrewa and Ōtorohanga Amid Severe Thunderstorm Alerts
By Lions Roar News Weather Desk
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND (Thursday, January 15, 2026) — Violent weather has carved a path across the upper North Island today as multiple tornadoes were reported in Auckland and Waikato, accompanied by a barrage of severe thunderstorm warnings.
MetService has placed several regions under high alert as an unstable air mass brings “very heavy rain” and localized destructive winds to communities from Northland to the Coromandel.
🌪️ Tornadoes Spotted in Suburban and Rural Areas
Residents in Ōrewa, North Auckland, were left “freaked out” this morning when a mini-tornado touched down in a residential area. Witnesses described a sudden “whistling sound” and circling winds that sent children scrambling for safety indoors. While MetService noted the instability was high enough to produce such events, damage in the suburb appears to be minor.
Meanwhile, a more imposing tornado was captured on film tearing through fields in Maihiihi, near Ōtorohanga.
- The Impact: Massive trees were downed, narrowly missing residential homes.
- Local Account: Residents reported a “nerve-racking” experience as the funnel moved through rural properties, luckily avoiding major infrastructure.
⛈️ Severe Thunderstorm Warnings & Heavy Rain
A dozen weather watches and warnings are currently active across the island. MetService has warned that thunderstorms moving east-south-east will bring torrential downpours to:
- Rodney & Kaipara: Severe warnings active until 8:45 PM.
- Auckland Region: Forecasted broadscale rain expected to last over 12 hours.
- Bay of Plenty: A 25-hour rain warning is in effect, with a significant threat of flash flooding.
In the South Taranaki and Coromandel districts, emergency crews are already out clearing drains and responding to reports of surface flooding on major roads.
✈️ Travel Disruption: Auckland Airport Delays
The atmospheric chaos has reached Auckland Airport, where wind and visibility issues have caused delays for arriving aircraft. While the terminals remain operational, passengers are being urged to check with their airlines for potential cancellations or rescheduled flights.
🌡️ A Tale of Two Islands
While the North Island swelters in the mid-20s despite the rain, the South Island is feeling a distinct chill.
- Christchurch: High of 17°C.
- Dunedin & Invercargill: Struggling to reach 15°C.
