Auckland has been plagued by a variety of weather events this afternoon after MetService announced that the region is under a severe thunderstorm watch until 8pm tonight.
1News received a number of photos and videos of the wild weather, which included hail and what appeared to be a waterspout and tornado forming in two suburbs.
However, MetService's lead meteorologist Stephen Glassey said the supposed waterspout in Mission Bay and what looked to be the beginnings of a tornado in Eastern Beach were just funnel clouds.
After reviewing footage sent to 1News, he was quick to remind the public waterspouts only occur when they touch the water.
"It looks like a funnel cloud which could form a water spout if it touches down on the water. Waterspouts occur over the water while tornadoes occur over the land," he said.
He said the same for tornadoes: "It is only a tornado if it touches down on the land."
Glassey explained waterspouts are "generally weaker" than tornadoes, but boats should stay away from the spouts "because of the strong winds associated with them".
Eastern Beach resident Stefan Gross had sent in video of what he thought was a tornado forming over the suburb.
"I saw it form a long column between two clouds... I looked closely and it started spinning, within minutes it became more intense and spinning faster.
"I thought if it keeps growing it will touch the ground."
He said before he knew it, the clouds "seemed to have dissipated back into clouds and disappeared just as quickly as [they] arrived".
Glassey said that while the video was cool, "it is only a tornado if it touches down on the land. In the video it looks like it is still a funnel cloud as it is not touching the land".
Coromandel Peninsula, Waikato, Waitomo, Bay of Plenty and Rotorua are also currently under a severe thunderstorm watch until 8pm tonight, according to MetService.
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