Residents from Lower Hutt are picking up the pieces after a suspected tornado ripped through the area this afternoon, causing widespread damage.
Resident Nathan said he was picking up his son from kindergarten when it hit.
“It was just chaos.”
He told 1News the weather event seemingly came out of nowhere.
“It was blue skies and suddenly it just went black. It started off with hailstorms, lightning, wind all in one.”
Hutt City Mayor Campbell Barry said the initial assessment from FENZ is that a tornado did form.
“Really thankful no one has appeared to be seriously injured at this stage but there has been quite extensive damage [to] houses and vehicles that have been in the path of the tornado.”
He said the council is currently assessing the damage and working with FENZ, and checking in to make sure people are OK.
Damage to trees, cars, buildings and traffic lights could be seen. (Source: Supplied)
When asked if he has witnessed a weather event like this in the region, he said “not in my lifetime”.
“People are feeling a little bit on edge, so we’re really encouraging them to stay indoors if they can, to just make sure we let emergency services do what they need to do in responding to the clean up as well.”
Claire, another resident, said she was going to gymnastics but had to turn around and go home after the weather worsened.
When she came back to her house, she found there was extensive damage to the property.
“We’ve got two holes in the ceiling, a hole in the side of the wall, the front glass awning thing is all moved, and some of our guttering is gone.”
Earlier today, footage captured a picnic table and road sign being blown away as the city was battered by strong gusts.
Some international flights arriving in Wellington have also been diverted or delayed.
SHARE ME