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Kevin Stent / Stuff
A thunderstorm is expected in parts of Canterbury on Friday night. (File photo)
Severe storm warnings for Canterbury have been removed.
MetService previously warned that a storm was expected to hit Ashburton and Selwyn districts late on Friday afternoon and last until 9 p.m.
Warnings were also issued for Timaru and the Mackenzie district, but they were also lifted.
However, the region remains alert to bad weather, and thunderstorms that are not considered serious are still expected.
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MetService said the weather radar detected severe thunderstorms near Methven, Lauriston and Highbank around 5.30 p.m.
The storms were moving to the southeast and were expected to be near Lauriston and Te Pirita at 6 pm and near Rakaia, Lauriston and Chertsey at 6:30 pm
Meanwhile, the rest of the South Island is also on the alert for bad weather.
A heavy rain warning has been issued for North Otago, Dunedin and Clutha, with a probability of accumulation of 100 to 140mm of rain.
There is a heavy rain watch, which is one step below a warning, for parts of South Canterbury, Central Otago, Southern Lakes and Southland.
Christchurch is also expected to receive some rain later in the evening.
