Sept 4th Canterbury Thunderstorms

[Rogue]

Had the most incredible view from Ilam, bolts across the entire sky. Could hear a 'wooshing', faint at first but grew louder over about 10 mins. Figured it was hail, but we waited it out on the street with all the neighbours until we got the first few spits. Hurried under the porch, 10 seconds later all hell breaks loose

[David]

A few shots I took from the house before most of the actvity was obscured by cloud.

Spectacular! Excellent photos.

Hope the hail hasn't caused too much damage!

[melja]

Butt covering on that stuff story, i think its clear they were bigger than 15mm.
Many more phone calls to insurance companys i would think.

[spwill]

Looked like an impressive storm!

Link to hail photo posted on trade me.

http://images.trademe.co.nz/photoserver ... 6_full.jpg

Severe hail there but no severe warning was issued on MetService website

[CHCH Weather Chaser]

Butt covering on that stuff story, i think its clear they were bigger than 15mm.
Many more phone calls to insurance companys i would think.

Way bigger than 15mm your right!

[Lawrence]

Hail as reported by Paul Bateson of Christchurch.

[melja]

Reports of cracked windsreens too

[Lacertae]

Just back from my chase, I encountered 4 cells total and seeing the last 3 all firing up at once from Southbridge was a wonderful sight ! A shame I didn't order my 17-35mm lens in time, 24mm is good but not quite enough to put several cells on the same shot.
I will sort out and process the several hundred shots I bring back, fingers crossed they'll look as good on the laptop as they did on the camera's screen ! Stay tuned chaps.

[carrot]

Bit of a cruel joke that people will have to be deal with their insurance companies again exactly 2 years after the 7.1 quake.

[Rogue]

Sounds great Lacertae!

[melja]

From trademe. http://images.trademe.co.nz/photoserver ... 7_full.jpg

[Classicford]

Roof over our back porch.

[joecam]

http://youtu.be/MwbtOrwlbOI

My effort of the cell passing over my house.....
Cheers
Joecam

[melja]

Great video there, love the cloud movements.

[joecam]

Cheers

[Richard]

Yer great video,thank goodness i never get hail that big

[Tornado Tim]

Fantastic timelapse Joecam!

[xealeel]

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[Razor]

That was some storm far out I am struggling to remeber a more remarkable display

[Captain Salty]

STUFF is reporting a roof lifted off a house. I didn't notice much wind?

[Lacertae]

I will post the shots soon but I noticed some rotation-like structures in one of the cell when it would have been above Lake Ellesmere or near Christchurch. But out Southbridge way the wind was kinda gusty at times anyway, not enough to lift a roof but plenty to keep my bum frozen !

[Storm Struck]

I am surprised we havnt heard any reports of a tornado touch down, i went out just before 6pm i think it was headed south as i thought if it miss that storm then i might catch the second one that hits southern Christchurch.
I made a wise decision turned up Johns Road and out behind the airport in front, got set up camera rolling and some impressive lightning.
What got me is from where i was sitting the storm looked exactly like a Meso, a New Zealand large cake tin storm something you rarely see here and something i have never seen before blew me away .
I will post up some of my best from what i got in the coming days, but wow what a start 4 days in to spring i sure hope nobody was injured out there.
As Mike and Aaron will explain later on, they encountered some rotation above them in the clouds which is clearly seen on the video which mike breifly showed me before.

[Lacertae]

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[Lacertae]

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[Lacertae]

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