The New Zealand MetService is warning there is a ‘slim chance' of small tornadoes striking the Bay of Plenty tonight.

It is advising there is no risk of a tornado as large as the one that struck Auckland this afternoon.

See video below of the tornado that tore through Albany, Auckland, this afternoon. Video by YouTube user ZonicTV.

'In New Zealand tornadoes are very small, localised events,” says MetService chief forecaster Peter Kreft.

'Because they're much smaller than the tornados that occur, for example, in the Midwest of the United States, and sometimes occur without accompanying thunder and lightning, they're difficult to detect let alone track.”

The MetService is advising, however, of a strong chance of thunderstorms.

Western Bay of Plenty Civil Defence has issued a warning of thunderstorms also.