Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Southerly storm batters Wellington

Updated at 6:21 pm on 3 September 2010

A violent thunderstorm hit the capital on Friday evening, bringing heavy rain, lightning and hail to Wellington.

The storm affected transmission of Radio New Zealand programmes in some areas.

MetService earlier said the storm would hit the Marlborough Sounds and southern Wairarapa before clearing later in the evening.

Earlier in the day, the southerly blast deposited snow in Canterbury.

Snow was forecast to reach 300 metres in Christchurch and 200 metres in Dunedin.

MetService forecaster Derek Holland says snow has reached some parts of inland Canterbury.

Mr Holland says snow is unlikely to reach sea level, but Christchurch and Dunedin can expect cold temperatures and frosty weather during the next few days.

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