A weather warning of tornadoes, large hailstones and torrential rain in the Christchurch area has been lifted.
Photo: Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
The warning was lifted on Monday afternoon, but there is a continuing moderate risk of thunderstorms about the Canterbury plains for Monday evening. Some waterspouts and small land-based tornadoes were still possible, the MetService said.
The earlier MetService warning for Christchurch City and Selwyn said severe thunderstorms moving east-northeast were expected to lie near Christchurch and surrounds around 3.20pm and near the city, Lyttelton and Banks Peninsula, around 4pm.
"These thunderstorms are expected to be accompanied by torrential rain, large hail and possible tornadoes.
"Large hail can cause significant damage to crops, orchards, vines, glasshouses and vehicles, and make driving conditions hazardous. Tornadoes can blow out windows, lift roofs, break large branches off trees, generate dangerous flying debris and blow vehicles off the road," the warning said.