Here’s what is making the weather headlines today….

THUNDERSTORMS STRIKE NORTH CANTERBURY

A southwest change moved through around midnight last night for North Canterbury (north of the Rakaia River) and delivered heavy showers with hail and lightning for some.

Usually the middle of the night (and considering we are approaching winter) isn’t the best time for a thunderstorm in Canterbury. However upper air moving in was super cold, dropping from -20 degrees celsius around 5000m up in the atmosphere to -30 in a relatively short time frame. This combined with just enough surface warmth and moisture resulted in these storms.

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SOUTHWESTERLIES HIT THE NORTH ISLAND THIS MORNING

Overnight southwesterlies strengthened for the western North Island, a slight delay then the change moved up the east coast first thing this morning. For the western North Island a few showers is all that is on the cards today, the east coast should experience heavier showers for a time, perhaps the low risk of a rumble of thunder or two.

This evening showers clear for most but some remain along the eastern coastal fringe overnight and a few may remain for western coastal Northland.

Temperatures today will noticeably be colder than they were yesterday as you can see by the temperature charts below.

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FROST RISK

After the cold change peters out from this evening some places are going to get a bit cold overnight. Inland parts of both Islands may have a frost tomorrow morning.