MetService has issued a series of severe thunderstorm warnings and watches across the South Island and central North Island, as intense weather systems brought heavy rain, hail and lightning to several regions on Thursday.
At 4.21 pm, a severe thunderstorm warning was issued for Waitaki and Dunedin City after MetService radar detected strong storm cells near Waikouaiti, Hummock (between Middlemarch and Waikouaiti), and Hindon at 4.15 pm. The thunderstorms were tracking northeast and were expected near Palmerston, Waikouaiti and Hummock at 4.45 pm, and later near Palmerston, Waikouaiti and Moeraki by 5.15 pm, Stuff has reported.
"These thunderstorms are expected to be accompanied by torrential rain and large hail," MetService said, as quoted by Stuff.
Widespread Watch for Central North Island
Shortly after 4 pm, MetService extended its alerts, issuing a severe thunderstorm watch for Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, Taupo, Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay, in effect through 10 pm Thursday.
Slow-moving, isolated thunderstorms were developing across inland parts of Rotorua, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne/Tairāwhiti, Hawke’s Bay and Taupo during the afternoon and evening.
MetService noted that in parts of Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, Taupo (north and east of the city), and ranges north of SH5, some thunderstorms may become severe, bringing localised downpours of 25–40mm, as reported by Stuff.
High Risk in South Canterbury and Eastern Otago
A thunderstorm outlook issued at 2.12 pm highlighted a high risk of severe thunderstorms for South Canterbury and eastern Otago, where hail could exceed 20mm, and there was a chance of small tornadoes.
In the South Island, the volatile conditions were driven by an upper cold trough interacting with northeasterly winds shifting southwest. In the North Island, warm temperatures and light winds encouraged rapid cloud buildup, Stuff has reported.
Dunedin Hit by Lightning, Hail and Flooding
Dunedin experienced intense thunder and lightning on Thursday afternoon as a sudden downpour drenched the city.
Drains overflowed and traffic congestion built up as torrential rain hit. A reader sent Stuff an image capturing a lightning bolt striking as the storm approached central Dunedin.
A MetService radar image from 3.35 pm showed a thick band of heavy rain stretching from Alexandra to Dunedin. At 3.30 pm, a severe thunderstorm warning was also issued for Central Otago and Dunedin City.
The storms were moving east, having passed through Middlemarch at 3.22 pm, and were expected near Dunedin at 4.22 pm.
The warnings again highlighted the risks:
"Torrential rain can cause surface and/or flash flooding about streams, gullies and urban areas, and make driving conditions extremely hazardous," MetService said, Stuff has quoted.
"Large hail can cause significant damage to crops, orchards, vines, glasshouses and vehicles, and make driving conditions hazardous," as quoted by Stuff.
At Dunedin Airport earlier in the day, photos showed frost still coating pavements as dark clouds gathered on the horizon.
The severe weather watch remained in effect until 9 pm for Canterbury Plains, Canterbury High Country, North Otago, Dunedin and Clutha.
MetService warned that some storms could produce 25–40mm downpours per hour, hail larger than 20mm, and even a slight chance of small tornadoes, with risks of flash flooding, slips and rapidly hazardous driving conditions.
Thunderstorm activity was expected to ease later in the evening.
Elsewhere in the Country
Other regions enjoyed relatively calm conditions:
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Auckland: Mostly fine, with a chance of an afternoon shower in the east.
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Wellington: Fine weather with winds easing later in the day.
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Tauranga: Fine but with the possibility of a heavy shower in the afternoon.
Severe weather updates will continue as MetService monitors the rapidly changing conditions.
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