Severe thunderstorm watch issued for Nelson and Marlborough. Photo: Supplied/Metservice
Nelson, Marlborough and eastern parts of the Tasman region are under severe thunderstorm watch until 7pm Tuesday night.
Metservice said the areas should expect heavy rain, hail, thunderstorms and the "slight" possibly of a small tornado.
The watch is in place from 2pm - 7pm and warned that a few of the thunderstorms could become severe, producing large hailstones - two centimetres in diameter - or significant hail accumulations.
⛈️⛈️A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for Nelson and Marlborough from 2pm to 7pm today.
— MetService (@MetService) March 3, 2025
A few of these thunderstorms may become severe, producing large hail in excess of 2 cm in diameter!
Details here https://t.co/qHyE5zzql5 pic.twitter.com/6e4g0l83An
Metservice said the hail could cause serious damage to crops, orchards, vines, glasshouses and vehicles, as well as make driving conditions dangerous.
The storms should ease by Tuesday night.
Eastern areas of the Wairoa District are also under a heavy rain watch and there is a strong wind watch for the Chatham Islands.
There are moderate chances of the watches getting upgraded to a warning.
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