4.15pm UPDATE

Hail reported as large as the size of golfballs are coming in from parts of Canterbury as thunderstorms gather momentum.

Thunder and hail occurred in and around parts of Dunedin earlier this afternoon but further north over parts of the Canterbury Plains the storms have increased in size and severity.

Hail has fallen over numerous areas of South and Mid Canterbury and there’s a chance of it moving into North Canterbury however there’s also a chance that it could push out to sea.

Temperatures have also plummeted in the deep south with Gore recording just 7 degrees this afternoon and single figure overnight lows are likely to see much of the South Island very chilly tonight.

One WeatherWatch.co.nz facebook reader in Dunedin posted ” Yip in Dunedin city – Currently p***sing down. Thunder and lightning too” and Pieter said “hail in Mosgiel the sizes of m&m peanuts !!”.
Tina based in Canterbury commented “Thunder and hail just north of Rangitata now and lots of it!!!!! Sure is heading north!!!” 

Earlier story

Thunderstorms are blotting parts of the landscape this afternoon across central areas of the South Island.

Conditions began deteriorating earlier this afternoon and it appears that the showery and thundery activity is heading north.

Reports are coming in on our Facebook page with comments such as this one from Tina”Sky has gone dark here now and thunder storm is on its way (south of hinds, north of rangitata river)” and Al from Dunedin posted “Dark, raining off & on & Thunder”.

Earlier today the West Coast took a pounding and Dayna mentioned ” Hokitika had a fancy mini weather bomb at about 4am it hink it was. Woke the kids who usually arnt fussed. frequent mini fronts passing through temp is up and down, got really cold about 9-10am, seems to have cooled off agian now definatly snow on the hills Id say. nothing exciting has happened since the 4am front thou just rain for 5mins then stops until new front arrives”.

Kathryn was in agreement about the inclement conditions on the coast “Yeah similar to Hoki weather with lots of loud thunder and lightning last night and currently is cloudy and calm but am waiting for the further downpours that look like they are looming….”.

Conditions still look disturbed across much of the lower South Island and are likely to spread a little further north before evening kicks in.

Story by WeatherWatch.co.nz weather analyst Richard Green 

Photo by kiwibonds showing ominous clouds over Otago