Hundreds of lightning strikes have been observed around the South Island as a cold front moves across the motu.
“There have been 884 lightning strikes in the last two hours!,” MetService said on social media. The lightning was expected to continue through Friday evening and into Saturday morning.
Severe weather warnings remain in place for the lower South Island, with thunderstorms, heavy rain and wind gusts of 130kph expected in some areas.
The warnings were prompted by severe north-westerly gales pushing the cold front eastward, with most of the warnings running through to the end of Friday.
MetService meteorologist Ashlee Parkes said severe gales were expected to persist throughout Canterbury high country into Saturday morning.
The West Coast and Fiordland could see heavy rainfalls continuing into Saturday, with the Westland warning lasting until 9pm on Saturday.
Higher accumulation of rainfall was expected throughout the region during the warning period, with 220-240mm expected in the ranges and 80-110mm on the coast.
Stuff
884 lightning strikes within two hours were observed around the South Island on Friday.
Overall, the trend was “wet and thundery in the west today and scattered rain and windy in the east,” Parkes said.
“This front that’s currently residing across the South Island will ease and break up during Saturday. We’ll still see period of rain for the West Coast and winds will still be a bit gusty but nothing severe.”
Tie down anything loose, including your trampoline, Parkes said, if your area has a wind watch or warning in effect.
And if you are in a region with a heavy rain warning, keep up-to-date with the latest forecasts and keep an eye out for what local authorities and emergency services are saying.