Several weather watches have been issued as thunderstorms are expected for the southeast of the South Island and the upper North Island. MetService has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for Christchurch, Canterbury Plains, Canterbury High Country, North Otago, Central Otago, Dunedin, Clutha and Southland from 1pm until 8pm today. "A cold unstable air-mass affects parts of the South Island today. Meanwhile up north, a complex trough embedded in a moist unstable air-mass was expected to move east across the upper North Island, the forecaster said. It issued a severe thunderstorm watch for Northland, Auckland, Great Barrier Island, Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty and Rotorua from 2pm until 8pm today.

Source: Otago Daily Times December 26, 2025 02:34 UTC