South Island weather: South Canterbury battered by thunder and lightning

South Canterbury is being battered by bad weather as a southerly front moves up the country.

Thunder and lightning with heavy rain showers were reported in Timaru and Ashburton at about 1.30pm.

It is expected to reach Christchurch at about 3.30pm.

The lightning strikes in South Canterbury on Thursday. Photo / My Lighting Tracker & App

Metservice says a very active group of thunderstorm cells fired off 236 strikes in two hours.

A severe thunderstorm warning was in place for the Canterbury Radar area which covers Ashburton, Timaru and Mackensie.

⚡Severe Thunderstorm⚡

Warning currently in force - watch until 4pm

Get the details https://t.co/qHyE5zhh6X ^Lewis pic.twitter.com/NmFCH2zL5B

— MetService (@MetService) January 28, 2021

It has been a cooler start to the day than most South Islanders have experienced all week.

Christchurch was sitting at 16C at about 10.30am on Thursday, Dunedin on 15C and Timaru 14C.

MetService is forecasting temperatures will reach 17C throughout the day in Christchurch.

MetService meteorologist Andy Best said the cool change has been brought about by a southerly making its way up the South Island.

"It is currently very windy in the south. A southerly change has brought quite strong winds to the Otago peninsula and is moving up towards Kaikōura.

"That southerly is bringing a stark change in temperatures. People should expect a cooler night down to about 5 or 6C in Queenstown and also places like Ashburton and Timaru."

There is a moderate risk of thunderstorms in Christchurch and North Canterbury on Thursday afternoon and a low risk in the central South Island.

Comparing temperatures recorded at 7am yesterday with today's. In the North Island, Gisborne was 12C yesterday, today it's already 22C at the same time. In the south Christchurch was 21C yesterday, today it's 15C. Yesterday Wanaka was 20C now its 9C ! Cooler Friday everywhere.^AB pic.twitter.com/9D5PG33HBu

— MetService (@MetService) January 27, 2021

It is expected to be so much cooler, that snow could fall in Fiordland.

"We are forecasting snow down to 1000m on Thursday. There will also be some sleety showers on Friday."

It is a stark contrast to the weather in the south this week.

Temperatures reached a scorching 36.1C in Blenheim and 35C in Christchurch on Wednesday.

It followed an even hotter day on Tuesday with temperatures smashing records across Canterbury.

Christchurch broke its 1979 record for the hottest day in January with 36.1C.

Other places in Canterbury followed suit with Ashburton reaching 39.2C, the highest temperature for the area since records began in 2006.

Friday is expected to also be quite cold, Best said.

"We are expecting temps down to about 16C in Christchurch and 12C in Invercargill which we would expect to be about 19C for this time of year."

Soaring hot weather over the last few days put Canterbury fire services on high alert.

However, Fire and Emergency spokesperson Bruce Janes said the 5mm of rain expected in Canterbury won't be enough to alter dry conditions.

He said a good dump of rain is not expected until late next week, meaning fire services will continue to remain on high alert.