(File photo)
Photo: 123RF
Hundreds of people are without power in Mosgiel near Dunedin, and also in Southland.
Very heavy rain, lightning and hail is bearing down on Dunedin and the surrounding areas.
Electricity provider Aurora says 700 households are currently without power in Mosgiel, but they hope power will be restored around 8pm.
In Southland, dozens of smaller scale outages have cut power to rural areas east of Invercargill and north of Gore.
MetService earlier issued a severe thunderstorm warning over Dunedin and Clutha.
⚠️ Warning Update ⛈️
Severe Thunderstorm Warning – Clutha and Dunedin City
Severe Thunderstorm Watch – North Otago, Dunedin, Clutha
More information: https://t.co/VDYb51QBlL @OtagoCDEM @nztaos @OtagoRC @DnCityCouncil pic.twitter.com/2wpRkW3wKT
— MetService NZ (@MetService) December 25, 2025
MetService said thunder will be accompanied by very heavy rain and large hail and warns it may make driving conditions dangerous.
MetService has lifted its red warning, but stormy weather is expected to persist until about 9pm.
Lightning strikes a power pole in Mosgiel on Thursday night.
Photo: Supplied