For once, storm bypasses North

Northland will be spared the stormy weather that claimed three lives in Auckland yesterday.

WeatherWatch predicts sunny and cool temperatures for Northland this weekend, particularly on Sunday, as a front that wreaked havoc in Auckland moved away.

An active line of thunderstorms that moved southeastwards across Northland caused a tornado that hit Hobsonville, causing three deaths, tearing down trees and ripping panels from the motorway.

Fire, police and ambulance raced to multiple callouts in Hobsonville and Upper Harbour in Auckland.

Philip Duncan of Weatherwatch said unlike in the past, Northland sat on the edge of a front while the biggest city in the country and Waikato copped the bulk of the damage.

"[Friday] will be showery and windy [in Northland], mostly on the west coast ... and the cooler temperature will take the humidity away," he said.

Although heavy rain was expected in Northland late yesterday, Mr Duncan said the skies should clear today.

Daytime temperature at most centres around Northland this week will hover around 22C, while overnight lows will be between 12C and 14C.

Showers are expected to completely fade out from Tuesday onwards.