A mini tornado has swept across the Auckland suburb of Ōrewa as MetService issues several thunderstorm warnings across the region. Anna Stephenson told the Herald her daughter and friend were outside playing when the wind picked up. “It turned into a whistling sound and started circling towards us,” she said. A tornado swept through the northern Auckland suburb of Ōrewa. Photo / Anna Stephenson “I pulled the girls inside as it was a little freaky! Only minor but very random to have that suddenly happen here.” MetService said it couldn’t confirm a mini tornado had swept across Ōrewa but said the area was seeing large amounts of instability. “It is one of the components that can create tornadoes,” a forecaster told the Herald. MetService has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Rodney and Kaipara until 6.37pm. MetService has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the Rodney and Kaipara regions. “These severe thunderstorms are moving towards the east-south-east, and are expected to lie near Warkworth, Omaha, Leigh and Matakana at 6.07pm and the outer Hauraki Gulf at 6.37pm. “These thunderstorms are expected to be accompanied by very heavy rain.” A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for Waikato, Waipa, Waitomo, Ōtorohanga, Rotorua and Taupō from 5.22pm to 6.22pm. MetService has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Waikato, Waipa, Waitomo, Ōtorohanga, Rotorua and Taupō from 5.22pm to 6.22pm. Photo / MetService All but Tairāwhiti is under a rain alert, with storms beginning this morning. A dozen warnings and watches are in place from Northland to Wellington. Broadscale heavy rain is forecast to hit Auckland this afternoon and last for more than 12 hours, and rain is falling in Taranaki and the central plateau. The Bay of Plenty, where a heavy rain warning has been issued, is in for 25 hours of wet weather, including thunderstorms and a threat of flooding. The severe thunderstorm watch came into force in Northland at 11am and will last until midnight. Other thunderstorm alerts came into force from 1pm and last until Friday morning. Meanwhile, the Thames-Coromandel District Council has issued a warning to campers, travellers and anyone else in the Coromandel to take care near roads and waterways. The South Taranaki District Council said surface flooding had been reported throughout the district, and it advised motorists to take care. “We’ve got all our crews out clearing drains and putting up signs. “We’ll keep an eye on things and update you via Facebook and Antenno if there’s anything more you need to know from us about today’s weather.” Taranaki Maunga is also under a heavy rain warning until 11pm, with up to 100mm of rain expected to fall and peak rates of up to 40mm/h. A heavy rain warning is in place for Marlborough, north of Ward, until 5pm. Up to 90mm of rain is expected on top of what has already fallen. This could lead to a rapid rise in streams and rivers. Surface flooding, slips and difficult driving conditions are possible. Heavy rain watches cover much of the top of the South Island, with Marlborough south of Ward and the Kaikōura Coast ending at 6pm, and the one covering Canterbury north of Banks Peninsula in place until 5am tomorrow. The watch covering Nelson and Tasman districts north of Nelson Lakes ended at 1pm. Ferris said the Marlborough Sounds looked like the region where the most persistent and heavy rain would occur during the second half of today. “Those surrounding areas, the rest of Marlborough, Nelson, Tasman and parts of Wellington will see a decent stretch of rain as we move through the day.” Temperatures across the North Island are forecast to remain in the mid-20s today. However, the eastern and southern parts of the South Island are forecast to experience chillier conditions, with Christchurch reaching a high of 17C, and Dunedin, Oamaru and Invercargill reaching a high of 15C, according to Niwa Weather. Delays at Auckland Airport The wild weather has caused delays at Auckland...