RFMI: Tornado Taranaki 22nd July 2008

[ATO2]

Check this one out: this is one road away from where I used to live!
Twister shreds milking shed - Taranaki Daily News: local, national & world news from Taranaki's daily newspaper

A tornado ripped through a Coastal Taranaki farm yesterday, lifting roofs, flattening sheds and terrifying a mob of bobby calves.

The Brophy family did not see or hear the twister, which ripped through their Lower Parihaka Rd farm near Pungarehu, but they definitely knew it had been calling.
Kerry Brophy called in to the milking shed at around 11.30am to see what had happened to the farm water supply and discovered the carnage.
The main building was open to the sky, a calf shed had been thrown off its foundations and several other roofs lay hundreds of metres away.

[Grant]

Upgraded to a Request For More Information please. If you have witnessed this event or are in the locality and are able to make a brief report and assessment or even able to take photos, please let us know.

[Grant]

GAILFORCE winds, rumbling thunder claps and hundreds of lightning strikes have filled the skies of Taranaki since Saturday night.

Locals need to prepare for the weather, as it is expected to continue over the next few days.

The stormy weather began on Saturday night (July 19) and around 7.50pm a tornado passed through Midhirst leaving a line of havoc in its dust.

Midhirst residents John and Raewyn Fredrickson said the damage from the tornado has cost them hundreds. One of chook houses was completely destroyed, we have found small broken bits all over the property, said John.

Other animal cages, parts of fences, spouting, veranda poles and part of the shed roof have also been damaged. The huge thunder claps and numerous lightning strikes also upset our stock, which caused them to break lose and get out onto the road.

The Kent Terrance residents also said their neighbours were affected by the tornado, but were unsure of the extent of the damage. One neighbour had his kids playhouse completely moved up to their backdoor, it was incredible, he said.

Stratford Police Senior Sergeant Shaun Keenan said the local force were kept quite busy during Saturday night with power lines down and fallen trees and stock on the roads.

Wild winter weather - Stratford Press - 2008-07-23 05:00:00.0 - localnews

[ATO2]

That area is only 25 miles away yet the weather there can be a different world to here.
Have travelled down there in rain and been greeted with clear skies and Sun. Other times it is the reverse. Mt Taranaki certainly has an influence on our province.