Tornado in western New Zealand

Time & location

Level of gravity (max of H or M - 6 levels) : 1 Level of human consequences (H - 6 levels): - Level of material consequences (M - 6 levels): 1

Date: 2013-03-30
Continent: Oceania
Country: New Zealand
State/Province (see map): Hokitika
Precise location : -
City: -

Human toll

Number of dead : 0
Number of missing : 0
Number of injured : 0
Number of evacuees : 0

Description

 A tornado has ripped through Hokitika, lifting rooves off buildings and toppling road signs. Witnesses at the beach saw the huge gust of wind coming off the Tasman Sea at about 12.30pm today. The tornado burst through the town and lifted the roof off the Railway Hotel Motel in Weld Street, and witnesses saw debris flying around in the air and hitting neighbouring buildings.

Conditions were perfect in the south for this kind of weather event. "The mix of high pressures and rain moving across the south makes for perfect conditions for a tornado. Nobody was available for comment at the Railway Hotel Motel and it is not known if anyone was injured.