Heavy showers, thunder and hail is peppering parts of Canterbury today as a front moves north over the region. 

Residents of Greendale, southwest of Darfield, have reported huge claps of thunder and lightning to NewstalkZB Christchurch.

Callers in to Chris Lynch on the morning show have also mentioned heavy rain over parts of Banks Peninsula and also over other parts of the Selwyn and Ashburton districts.

MetService earlier issued severe thunderstorm warnings for the area however Christchurch city was not specifically included in the warnings. hail was included in the statements along with thunder and lightning.

Showers are likely to continue this afternoon with the risk of thunder and hail for parts of Canterbury and temperatures dropping further.

-WeatherWatch