Updated 11:59am — A very active burst of wind and rain crossed Auckland this morning bringing widespread power cuts, uprooting trees and causing minor damage to buildings.

Some roads are affected by debris and surface water.

Head weather analyst Philip Duncan says the forecast front arrived on time and is now clearing the city.  “It arrived on time and is clearing a little ahead of schedule.  Now we’re seeing the worst of the weather crossing the Hauraki Gulf and into Great Barrier Island and Coromandel Peninsula”.

— DɘsÊ◎иd.德斯曼 (@nzdesmond) July 17, 2015

Good luck @Vectorltd – your crews will be busy after that blast of weather! https://t.co/xZHzwryKnC

— WeatherWatch.co.nz (@WeatherWatchNZ) July 17, 2015

@WeatherWatchNZ crazy cloud after the rain looking towards Massey. pic.twitter.com/gwcfHL9LTt

— Michael Brennan (@MBfreaquency) July 17, 2015

Storm damage cnr Ponsonby and Crummer Rds pic.twitter.com/w6QawKsZRa

— Carol Hirschfeld (@CarolHirschfeld) July 17, 2015

While pockets of damage are being reported right across Auckland it’s imporant to note that most properties don’t have damage.

Yesterday WeatherWatch.co.nz said there was a risk of a small tornado or localised wind damage as the active front passed through.  While no tornados have been confirmed the reports coming in to WeatherWatch.co.nz talk of winds swirling in all directions and “rain that was going upwards” according to a couple of tweets from Aucklanders.  Whether it was a squall or small tornado winds in the strongest gusts are estimated to have been about 110 to 130km/h.

“There are three phases to the weekend weather – first this narrow but very active front which is crossing northern New Zealand from west to east. The second feature will be more wind, rain and showers from the Tasman Sea as the low moves across the North Island and central New Zealand tonight. The third feature is already affecting Southland, in the form of an Antarctic southerly which spreads north tonight and on Sunday, clearing skies for many regions as the day goes on”.

Auckland City has experience the first phase – now the afternoon will see drizzly showers and dry spells increasing – before showers and blustery winds push in later today and this evening as the back end of the low moves in. The Southerly arrives in Auckland on Sunday.

WeatherWatch.co.nz advises New Zealanders to monitor the rain radars, latest forecasts, warnings and weather news for your area. 

– WeatherWatch.co.nz

– Photo: Michael Brennan