Key Takeaways
- A Northland boatie, Chris Howe, captured a waterspout on camera while sailing out of Whangārei Harbour.
- The waterspout was part of a thunderstorm that was heading towards the vessel from the west, bringing lots of lightning and heavy rain.
- The crew decided to hold position at low power in open water to avoid the storm, and later anchored near higher terrain to reduce exposure to lightning.
- MetService issued a thunderstorm warning for Whangārei, warning of severe storms with torrential rain and large hail.
- The situation was manageable, but required careful judgement to balance the risks of remaining offshore versus sheltering near land.
Introduction to the Incident
A Northland boatie, Chris Howe, had a close encounter with a waterspout while sailing out of Whangārei Harbour. On Saturday afternoon, Howe told RNZ that he could see a thunderstorm heading towards his vessel from the west, bringing lots of lightning and heavy rain. As a sailor, being in a vessel with a tall conductive mast during a lightning storm is concerning, and Howe’s crew was on high alert. One member of the crew spotted something forming over the Mount Mania range of Whangārei Heads, which turned out to be a waterspout.
The Waterspout Formation
Howe managed to grab his camera and take photographs of the waterspout before deciding that they needed to think about their situation and where they were. A second waterspout then began to form in the approaching storm, and Howe said it was not possible for his vessel to outrun the storm safely. The crew decided that the safest option was to spend time holding position at low power in open water, rather than trying to outrun the storm. Thankfully, the second waterspout did not come to anything, and the crew was able to avoid any potential damage.
Responding to the Storm
After 45 minutes of holding position, the crew decided to head back to land, but their biggest concern was a lightning strike. As they were on a large-masted vessel, they were effectively acting as a conductor in the open harbour water, making them more susceptible to lightning strikes. To reduce their exposure, they decided to enter Smugglers Bay and anchor near higher terrain. As the storm system moved east, the lightning activity gradually reduced and became more distant, and the crew was able to breathe a sigh of relief. Conditions have since eased, and no damage was sustained.
MetService Warning
MetService had issued a thunderstorm warning for Whangārei early on Saturday afternoon, saying that they had detected "severe" storms near Bream Head, Pataua, Taiharuru, Opahi, Purua, and Hikurangi. The storms were expected to be accompanied by torrential rain and large hail. However, just after 2 pm, the forecaster said that the storms were no longer considered "severe". The warning had been issued to alert residents and boaties of the potential dangers of the storm, and to take necessary precautions to ensure their safety.
Conclusion and Reflection
While the situation was manageable, it was genuinely concerning for a period, and required careful judgement to balance the risks of remaining offshore versus sheltering near land. The crew’s decision to hold position and later anchor near higher terrain was a prudent one, and helped to minimize their exposure to the storm. The incident highlights the importance of being aware of weather conditions and taking necessary precautions when out on the water. It also shows the value of having a experienced and cautious crew, who can make quick and informed decisions in emergency situations.