Parts of Canterbury were battered by a sudden burst of thunderstorms on Saturday evening, bringing lightning, thunder, heavy rain, and hail to several areas. The warning was lifted by 6.48pm, although officials noted that “one or two” thunderstorms lingering over north Canterbury could still turn severe. Lincoln resident Sarah Bisley said the rain and hail lashed her area for around 25 minutes, leading to minor flooding on her road. Despite the disruption, she viewed the sudden weather event with a sense of nostalgia. Bisley, who is originally from the United Kingdom, said the scene reminded her of festive weather back home.

Source: Stuff December 20, 2025 12:59 UTC