Moist NW flow and severe weather, Upper NI, 5 Dec -

[Manukau heads obs]

not surprised...rain radar shows real gust front type rain band through west auckland!

[GraemeWi]

There were some pinks and purples showing on the 12:13 radar image probably around the Hobsonville area

Someone on Newstalk ZB at the moment saying a tornado just went through Hobsonville Point. Big light tower taken down. Not sure if it was actually straight line winds, but damage certainly done.

[Area51]

VERY heavy rain at Auckland airport now, winds died right down. Vis about 2km. Talk about torrential!

[Manukau heads obs]

I see Ricky caught that rain band...5mm in like 2 minutes by the looks!

[Razor]

There were some pinks and purples showing on the 12:13 radar image probably around the Hobsonville area

Someone on Newstalk ZB at the moment saying a tornado just went through Hobsonville Point. Big light tower taken down. Not sure if it was actually straight line winds, but damage certainly done.

Yet theres no severe thunderstom warning?

[Tornado Tim]

Thunder here now

[Manukau heads obs]

M/S did update the severe thunderstorm outlook re this incoming thunderstorm
but surprised they did not put a watch on it...especialy considering the reports of fog moving into the north shore...thats signs of lots of moisture to feed it...and what with the strong jet stream above at the moment....

update: tropical downpour type rain here now
still getting real close lightning strikes too

[GraemeWi]

There was a txt 'civil defense' alert at 9.33 this morning - that prompted me to start having a look at the radar and trying to look out the window. A couple of articles on NZHerald and Stuff - maybe a press release went out?

[Tornado Tim]

Cracker of a CG to the north

[Manukau heads obs]

now M/S have a watch out....
http://metservice.com/national/warnings ... torm-watch
update: real foggy here now. Still the odd good flash of lightning. 20mm of rain here now. great xmas present for the farmers!

[littleheaven]

Reports that two people have been killed and one missing in Hobsonville.

[Nev]

Here's some updates:

'Fatal tornado smashes Auckland' - Auckland Stuff

'Three dead after Auckland tornado' - NZ Herald

[bmo]

Just had very torrential rain here in Kaukapakapa and can hear thunder from the North again, we're now enveloped in thick low clouds

[bmo]

TV3 about to go on air with a breakign news special

[Vertigo]

any chance we can try to put a track map together?

[jamie]

awesome lightning and thunder here now. seeing the odd CG

[Razor]

Very sad to hear people have been killed in Hobsonville. Thoughts go out to those involved up there

[Tornado Tim]

Surely metservice should have seen this straight line wind or tornado on dopplar Radar, why the hell wasn't a warning issued.

Thunder every minute here now.

[Vertigo]

there is still a good amount of strong, warm, humid air being drawn in from the sea here at takapuna! being drawn SW!

[bmo]

We're having thunder every few seconds and the rain has just hit 15mm from this band alone

[Vertigo]

literally 2 minutes after i said that, the torrential rain hit here HARD, and its still going!

[Manukau heads obs]

clearing here now...aucklands turn now
30mm here total
sad to hear about 3 people killed

[David]

Plenty of torrential rain at uni today near the CBD although not much thunder to be heard. No rain in Howick so far today (apart from 0.2mm early morning)

[bmo]

we're up to 40mm now and continuous thunder and the rain is torrential

[Vertigo]

david give it time, the rain just hit takapuna 15 minutes ago, and looks like theres more to come