A powerful Christmas Day storm hit Dunedin and Clutha, bringing hail, lightning, and heavy rain, disrupting travel and prompting warnings across New Zealand.

A severe thunderstorm hit Dunedin and Clutha on Christmas Day, bringing heavy rain, large hail over 20mm, and about 200 lightning strikes by 6 p.m., prompting a MetService warning until 9 p.m. The storms caused hazardous driving conditions and posed risks to crops and vehicles. A thunderstorm watch remained in effect for north Otago. The event occurred during holiday travel, with police increasing road enforcement. The weather system continued to affect the South Island, with additional alerts issued for parts of the North Island.