Possible tornado rips through Westland as severe weather affects much of South Island

Severe weather forecasters are investigating a possible tornado overnight as wild weather affects much of the South Island.

As of 8.30am, MetService had 19 severe weather warnings in place, with all but two in the South Island.

They included orange heavy rain warnings and orange strong wind warnings.

MetService meteorologist Amy Rossiter told Morning Report a front had moved through overnight, bringing a change from a very strong, warm and moist northwesterly flow to a southerly flow.

There was also a deep low off the east of the South Island that was driving stronger winds and heavier rain to the Otago and Southland regions.

Severe gales had been recorded overnight, with Rossiter saying Mount Hutt reached gales of 190 kilometres per hour while Nugget Point reached 142kmh.

A front moved through Westland around 10.30pm on Monday night, causing a possible tornado.

“There were some signals on our radar that suggests there may have been a tornado. Our severe weather forecasters are still investigating that, but at this stage, it looks like there was a possibility of one.”

Rossiter said Otago’s heavy rain warnings were in place until 11am. The rain had only just started in the last few hours but the “heavier stuff” was expected to persist this morning.

Snow had also started to show, as it does in colder outbursts, on the Crown Ranges, Rossiter said.

The strong wind could bring damage to property, especially loose structures, she said.

MetService said settled weather is expected for much of the country from Thursday.