UPDATED 4:25pm — A waterspout has been recently spotted and photographed crossing Auckland Harbour.

Boaties should immediately get out of the way as these waterspouts have the potential to flip yachts and small boats.

It is likely travelling east or south east along the back edge of the front which is now clearing Auckland City from the west.

Those around Auckland Habour, Devonport and the eastern bays suburbs should be vigilant.

Waterspouts are generally fairly safe to watch from land but should it move towards land people should immediately take cover indoors away from windows.

Head weather analyst Philip Duncan says unstable weather conditions over the upper North Island are responsible for the waterspout.  “We have a day that is quite similar to the day we saw the Albany tornado last year, we have a warm, humid, very calm day but some very big cloud build ups.  This big cloud build ups can create wild air currents and in turn they can create localised funnel clouds – which can lead to small waterspouts over water or small tornadoes over land”.

Mr Duncan says the risk today is considered generally low but with evidence of one in Auckland he advises boaties to be aware of sky conditions around eastern Auckland and extends further to the Hauraki Gulf, Firth of Thames and Great Barrier Island.

WeatherWatch.co.nz says the unstable weather will be around tomorrow and Friday too – with a low risk of further waterspouts or small scale tornados but the weather news authority stresses an potential development will be isolated.

“It’s common to get waterspouts in New Zealand but certainly rare to see such a clearly defined one right in the CBD of Auckland Harbour”. 

Just In – photos of the waterspout crossing just to the east of Auckland Harbour Bridge / Photo Paul Green

Abi Beatson

Sarah Baldwin

David Streifler