Parts of Canterbury were battered by a sudden burst of thunderstorms on Saturday evening, bringing lightning, thunder, heavy rain, and hail to several areas. Reported by Karanama Ruru from Stuff.
MetService issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Selwyn, Waimakariri, and Ashburton at 5.54pm. The warning was lifted by 6.48pm, although officials noted that “one or two” thunderstorms lingering over north Canterbury could still turn severe.
In Christchurch, lightning strikes and loud thunderclaps accompanied the downpour, briefly disrupting normal evening activity. Residents in surrounding areas reported intense rainfall over a short period of time.
Lincoln resident Sarah Bisley said the rain and hail lashed her area for around 25 minutes, leading to minor flooding on her road. Despite the disruption, she viewed the sudden weather event with a sense of nostalgia.
Bisley, who is originally from the United Kingdom, said the scene reminded her of festive weather back home. “I’m happy for my fleeting white Xmas.”
While the storm system moved through quickly, the brief “hosing down” served as a reminder of how rapidly weather conditions can change across the region.
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