A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for Sunday morning over Coromandel Peninsula.
A severe thunderstorm warning for Franklin and parts of Auckland was issued and then lifted as the weather weakened and moved to the northern Firth of Thames, MetService said.
The warning bore fruition however, with cloud formations resembling funnels or twisters over east Auckland suburbs.
Scott Davies said he witnessed the large funnel cloud from Lloyd Elsmore Park in Pakuranga. The phenomenon moved over the Whitford area at around 2.50pm.
Further heavy showers were still expected across Auckland this afternoon and early evening.
Coromandel was forecasted to have localised downpours with an intensity of 25-40 mm/h between 1am and 9am on Sunday.
"A slow-moving trough over Coromandel Peninsula has the potential to produce thunderstorms and localised heavy rain during Sunday morning,” MetService said.
"Rainfall of this intensity can cause surface and/or flash flooding, especially about low-lying areas such as streams, rivers or narrow valleys, and may also lead to slips.
"Driving conditions will also be hazardous with surface flooding and poor visibility in heavy rain.”
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