WeatherWatch.co.nz says today’s terrifying tornado which hit Albany most likely had winds averaging 200km/h.

Head weather analyst Philip Duncan says damaging tornados of this strength are fairly rare in New Zealand but do occur every few years.

“We’ve had reports of cars lifted and thrown, roofs taken off and trees uprooted, which is consistent with an EF1 or EF2 tornado – winds averaging somewhere between 180 and 220km/h”.

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One WeatherWatch.co.nz reader said they had Pink Batts raining down on their home in Beach Haven, a suburb just south of Albany.  “Its been raining pink batts in our area ( Beachhaven) — bits of shredded pink batts all over the place!” said the reader.

Mr Duncan says the threat of further tornados in Auckland this afternoon has eased but the risk now shifts south into Waikato, Coromandel Peninsula, Great Barrier Island and Bay of Plenty.  Waterspouts are also possible around Great Barrier Island, Coromandel Peninsula and Bay of Plenty.

The tornado was just a fraction of the size of the ones that hit America last week..

Below are the EF1 and EF2 rating descriptions.

EF1 – Winds: 138–178km/h – Moderate damage.
Roofs severely stripped; mobile homes overturned or badly damaged; loss of exterior doors; windows and other glass broken.

EF2 – Winds: 179–218km/h Considerable damage.
Roofs torn off well-constructed houses; foundations of frame homes shifted; mobile homes completely destroyed; large trees snapped or uprooted; light-object missiles generated; cars lifted off ground

– WeatherWatch.co.nz