Lightning hits 9500 times on stormy night
A total of 9500 lightning strikes were recorded nationwide on Tuesday night, most over the ocean, but 1500 of them struck over land, MetService meteorologist Tui McInnes said.
A tornado also hit the South Island’s West Coast, while three houses southeast of Auckland were hit by lightning.
In the Waitomo and Waikato region 700 bolts of lightning struck the ground.
In Te Kuiti, fire chief Phil New said two tourists in their 20s were rescued after waking to find their car surrounded by water.
New said the pair parked in the carpark of Ruakuri Reserve in Waitomo for the night when heavy rain caused the river to burst its banks.
They woke to find floodwaters throughout their vehicle, and rising. Firefighters were able to wade across to the carpark to get the pair out.
About 45 millimetres of rain fell in three to four hours in the Waitomo area early on Wednesday, the Waitomo District Council reported.
The heavy rain meant rivers around the Te Kuiti and Otorohanga district rose rapidly, overflowing on to some roads in the area.
Fire crews also battled a blaze at the Pureora Forest Park Department of Conservation office.
The 10 by 10 metre building was engulfed in fire about 4.15am.
DOC spokesman Herb Christophers said the hut was ‘‘burnt to the ground’’. ‘‘At the initial stage we suspect [the fire] was a result of a lightning strike.’’
A small tornado ripped through a West Coast settlement. It damaged houses, an early learning centre and road signs.
The twister made its way through Arahura, north of Hokitika, about 5.40am on Wednesday. Locals said it was down to luck noone was hurt.
A Stuff reporter at the scene in the settlement said he could see five damaged houses, some of which had blown-out windows, damaged lean-tos and fences.
The twister damaged the Kohanga Reo Auahi Kore early childhood centre as it tore through Arahura Pa. A goat tethered nearby lost its shed.
A police spokeswoman said level crossing signs near the intersection of State Highway 6 and Old Christchurch Rd had been damaged, ‘‘like a car had hit them’’. ‘‘A mini tornado has come through the area and blown the road signs and everything else,’’ she said.
Ngati Wae Wae chairman Francois Tumahai said the tornado that hit the West Coast only took out unoccupied buildings – ’’so we’re lucky’’.
The kohanga reo had not been operating for a few months, he said.
An administrator phoned him early this morning and told him the roof had ‘‘gone over the railway line’’, she said.
‘‘We’re cleaning up now and we’ll leave the building for assessors to see if it’s worth fixing.’’
‘‘We’re fortunate it’s only taken out unoccupied buildings,.’’
Earlier, Fire Emergency NZ tweeted that three neighbouring homes had been struck by lightning in Kohekohe, southeast of Auckland city, early on Wednesday.
Two homes were smoking and water was leaking through the roof of the third.