Hurunui severe thunderstorm warning lifted after storms hit Canterbury
A severe thunderstorm warning has been lifted for the Hurunui District after electrical storms hit the Canterbury region.
At 3.22pm, MetService weather radar detected severe thunderstorms near Culverden and Hanmer Springs.
MetService said the severe thunderstorms were moving towards the northeast and were expected to lie near Culverden, Hanmer Springs and Waiau shortly before 4pm.
The thunderstorms were expected to be accompanied by torrential rain, hail and frequent lightning.
In an update at 4.11pm, MetService said the severe thunderstorm warning was lifted for the Canterbury radar area.
“The severe thunderstorm has weakened so the warning is lifted. It is unlikely that any other thunderstorms will become severe today, but MetService meteorologists will continue to monitor.”
It comes after the North Island was battered with a day of thunderstorms.
A watch was in place for Auckland, the Coromandel Peninsula, Waikato, Waitomo, Taumarunui and Taupō until 8pm last night, with periodic red severe thunderstorm warnings issued for parts of Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty.
MetService warned the severe thunderstorms could bring torrential rain.
Torrential rain can cause surface and/or flash flooding around streams, gullies and urban areas, and make driving conditions extremely hazardous, MetService said.
“Hail can cause damage to crops, orchards and vines and may make driving conditions hazardous.
“Frequent lightning is dangerous to people and livestock, especially those exposed outdoors or on the water, and can cause power surges and damage to electrical equipment.”
Earlier on Saturday, the bad weather delayed the Auckland FC-Wellington Phoenix fixture at Go Media Stadium, with Herald readers sharing photos of lightning around the stadium.
MetService meteorologist Devlin Lynden said more than 2500 lightning strikes were recorded across the North Island between midday and 6.30pm yesterday.
A heavy downpour on the North Shore caused some issues in Wairau Valley, an area that was badly affected by the Auckland Anniversary Weekend floods in 2023.
Meanwhile, a vape store on Link Drive was prompted to call emergency services after water began streaming in through the building’s roof, flooding a cabinet and damaging stock.