15 May 2012

Water spouts in Wellington

6:23 pm on 15 May 2012

An unusual weather pattern produced a series of water spouts over Cook Strait on Tuesday afternoon.

Five or six were detected with speeds estimated at 50 to 60 km/h a quarter of the speed of big American tornadoes.

Water spouts in Wellington on Tuesday.

Water spouts in Wellington on Tuesday. Photo: RNZ

None caused any damage.

MetService forecaster Hordur Thordarson says the Wellington area was caught between a northerly wind and a southerly wind.

He says when that happens the convergence can cause instability and a spinning motion that causes the spouts to form.

Mr Thordarson says he does not expect a recurrence on Wednesday.