A severe thunderstorm has swept across the Canterbury Plains, hurtling golf ball-sized hail stones through windows and destroying crops.
A MetService spokesperson said the storm began mid-afternoon on Monday.
Rab McDowell, a crop farmer at Mayfield, near Ashburton, said hail stones rained down for about half an hour, smashing through the windows of houses and cars.
He predicted the storm had taken out up to half of his carrot and maize crops, and said other farms in the area would also have been damaged.
Meanwhile, a downpour caused flooding in several areas around Dunedin's city centre about 4pm.
A Fire Service spokesperson said it began receiving callouts just after the deluge hit, and there was flooding around Moray Place, Dowling Street and George Street.
A large amount of water was coming through the roof of an apartment block and officers helped salvage furniture and other belongings.
