Footage has captured a rare mesocyclone swirling over central Auckland yesterday.
The phenomenon was picked up by NIWA’s live Sky Tower camera as the city saw showers bring sweet relief in the sweltering heat last night.
Mesocyclones occur when “air rises and rotates around a vertical axis”, NIWA said on X.
“This one was likely from a combo of decaying sea breezes, Auckland’s varied terrain, and heavy showers in the area causing localised wind shifts.”
The tube-shaped cyclones, which form near severe thunderstorms, can develop into tornadoes.
