Yesterday afternoon things were heating up on the Canterbury plains and conditions were becoming unstable, I went out for a storm chase with a friend Mike Stewart just south of Christchurch mid afternoon.

I managed to take some lightning photo’s and we saw an area of rotation with a small funnel briefly, this storm was definately powerfull.

The storm moved over Christchurch as most know and unleashed it’s power.

I have further photo’s up at my website http://www.stormchasers.co.nz, I will get up a more thorough report in a day or two with video footage when I can get some spare time up my sleave.

The amount and quality of photographs taken by many in the city yesterday evening was amazing, especially Rob Dickinsons photo of the lightning over the eastern suburbs.

Story images / Aaron Wilkinson

By weather analyst Aaron Wilkinson, WeatherWatch.co.nz