EDIT: sorry being a bit cynical here

Nice Mushroom!matttbs wrote:Snapped this morning
MetService - Severe Thunderstorm Warnings
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST
Issued by MetService at 09:35 am Friday 28 November 2014.
Valid until 10:22 am Friday 28 November 2014.
This warning affects people in the following local government areas:
SELWYN and ASHBURTON.
At 09:22 am, MetService weather radar detected severe thunderstorms near ASHBURTON and THE ASHBURTON RIVER MOUTH.
These severe thunderstorms are moving towards the northeast, and are expected to lie near ASHBURTON and SEAFIELD at 09:52 am and near RAKAIA, CHERTSEY, PENDARVES and DROMORE at 10:22 am.
These thunderstorms are expected to be accompanied by very heavy rain and large hail.
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This warning is due to be updated or lifted by 10:22 am Friday 28 November 2014.
MetService - Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Valid to: 12:30pm Friday 28 Nov 2014
Issued at: 09:43am Friday 28 Nov 2014
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH
Issued by MetService at 09:43 am Friday 28 November 2014
Valid until 12:30 pm Friday 28 November 2014
This watch affects people in the following weather forecast districts:
Christchurch
Canterbury Plains
Isolated thunderstorms are likely to affect the Canterbury Plains this morning. One severe storm has been observed. Some of these may be severe producing large hail 20mm or more in diameter and heavy rain with rainfall rates 25 to 35mm per hour.
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Issued by: Erick Brenstrum
This watch will be updated by: 11:30 am Friday 28 November 2014
MetService - Severe Thunderstorm Warnings
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST
Issued by MetService at 10:24 am Friday 28 November 2014.
Valid until 11:07 am Friday 28 November 2014.
This warning affects people in the following local government areas:
SELWYN, WAIMAKARIRI and CHRISTCHURCH CITY.
At 10:07 am, MetService weather radar detected severe thunderstorms near CHRISTCHURCH, MCLEANS ISLAND, TEMPLETON and CHRISTCHURCH AIRPORT.
These severe thunderstorms are moving towards the eastnortheast, and are expected to lie near CHRISTCHURCH and CHRISTCHURCH AIRPORT at 10:37 am and near CHRISTCHURCH and BELFAST at 11:07 am.
These thunderstorms are expected to be accompanied by torrential rain and large hail.
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This warning is due to be updated or lifted by 11:07 am Friday 28 November 2014.
MetService - Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Valid to: 12:30pm Friday 28 Nov 2014
Issued at: 10:26am Friday 28 Nov 2014
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH
Issued by MetService at 10:26 am Friday 28 November 2014
Valid until 12:30 pm Friday 28 November 2014
This watch affects people in the following weather forecast districts:
Christchurch
Canterbury Plains
Isolated thunderstorms are likely to affect the Canterbury Plains this morning. One severe storm has been observed. Some of these may be severe producing large hail 20mm or more in diameter and heavy rain with rainfall rates 25 to 35mm per hour.
...
Issued by: Erick Brenstrum
This watch will be updated by: 11:30 am Friday 28 November 2014
MetService - Thunderstorm Outlook
Valid to: Midnight Friday 28 Nov 2014
Issued at: 10:17am Friday 28 Nov 2014
Amended for severe thunderstorms over Canterbury plains this morning.
An upper level cold trough moves over central New Zealand this afternoon and onto the North Island this evening, resulting in broadly unstable conditions between Waikato and Canterbury with thunderstorms possible in several areas.
In Canterbury this morning there is a moderate risk of severe thunderstorms over parts of the plains with rainfall rates 25-35mm/hr and hail possibly reaching diameters of 20mm or more.
In Buller, there is a low risk of thunderstorms into the afternoon.In the east however,onshore winds are expected to trigger heavy showers about inland parts of Marlborough and North Canterbury.Within this area,there is a moderate risk of thunderstorms forming over the inland ranges bringing locally heavy rain with rates 10-20mm/hr,and hail possibly reaching diameters of 10-20mm.
Over the North Island, an active trough is forecast to move onto Taranaki early afternoon then sweep eastwards. There is a moderate risk of thunderstorms accompanying the trough for Taranaki, Waitomo, Taumarunui and Taihape. There is also a moderate risk of thunderstorms for Bay of Plenty from about Rotorua eastwards during the afternoon and early evening. Any storms in these areas may bring heavy rain and small hail. A surrounding lower risk of isolated thunderstorms extends from South Auckland across to Gisborne and down through Hawkes Bay.
Finally, a southerly change is forecast to move through Wellington and southern Wairarapa early evening. Heavy showers and hail may accompany this change, with a moderate risk of storms for southern Wairarapa.
Elsewhere, no thunderstorms expected.
Only heavy rain in Ilam (where I was working) at the time, but heard several big claps of thunder.Razor wrote:Some impressive hail accumulations on the western side of town at present.