Latest images show that a southerly is on the doorstep of Christchurch this evening and that heavy showers, laced with some hail and thunder, are just south of Banks Peninsula.

Very strong nor’ westers are currently roaring across the greater Christchurch area.

South island Weather Analyst Richard Green believes that the garden city could be in for a wild night. ‘While the day has been sunny, warm and windy, tonight could be pretty rough with strong, very cold southerlies and a few beefy showers with possibly hail and thunder, making for a real combo’.

Ashburton was on 10 degrees at 5pm with a southerly up to 70kph whereas Christchurch still had sunny skies and 21 degrees with a gale force nor’ wester.