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\nSeveral weather watches have been issued (file image).
\nPhoto: 123rf.com\n<\/p>\n
People should prepare for stormy, wet weather, as they head out to Boxing Day sales.<\/p>\n
Several weather watches have been issued as thunderstorms are expected for the upper North Island and southeast of the South Island.<\/p>\n
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 on Friday.<\/p>\n
It said there was a possibility of hail larger than 20mm in these areas.<\/p>\n
“A cold unstable air-mass affects parts of the South Island today. For coastal Canterbury from the Banks Peninsula southwards, eastern Otago and Southland there is a moderate risk of thunderstorms. These storms may become severe this afternoon and evening with hail, larger than 20mm.”<\/p>\n
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\nSeveral weather watches have been issued.
\nPhoto: MetService\n<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
It issued a severe thunderstorm watch for Northland, Auckland, Great Barrier Island, Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty and Rotorua from 2pm until 8pm on Friday. Bay of Plenty and Gisborne are also under a watch from 7pm until 11pm Friday.<\/p>\n
MetService said the downpours could bring hourly rainfall amounts of 25 to 40mm an hour.<\/p>\n