NZFF

On the subject of sunsets, natural weather patterns and the like- did anyone see the big electrical storm happening out to the east of Auckland tonight?

Looked as thought it was happening over the Hauraki Gulf towards the Coromandel- was very spectacular to watch (reminds me of a similar storm I watched over the sea from Brighton in the UK) but I didn't have my camera with me as I was out and about. Saw heaps of people driving around and parking up to watch it though.

According to weatherwatch.co.nz, there was almost 1200 lightning strikes per hour! It lit up the clouds and sky amazingly well, almost like it was daylight. I'd love to see some photos if anyone took any tonight!

We had a big thunderstorm over Rotorua this afternoon/evening. Pouring down, hail, lightning and thunder. I did actually take some pictures after the storm had moved off...



Alex

Yep - quite a big electrical storm in Tauranga - was watching fork lightning for about an hour.

We had rain and wind at Papamoa and heard the thunder but seeing the paper today it was quite bad towards the Kaimais and in Katikati...

BOP Times Link

Looking towards the Kaimais ... hail !

Been aviating the last couple of nights and the lightning out over Great Barrier and the Coromandel was most spectacular. Also saw a huge meteorite just south of NZWN on tuesday night at 2345hrs.

That shot of the Kaimais is crazy Matt, looks like it's been snowing!

There was a short clip on the news about it tonight, and heaps of captures have since been posted on the weatherwatch site I linked above.







Apparently a heap of shooting stars were also reported last night- can't see how there is any connection to the storm there, perhaps everyone just had their eyes on the skies more than their TV sets for once!

One thing i enjoy is watching the sky - like incoming - the super weather bombs , Andrew , those snaps explain exactly why I stand out in the rain many times , watching the clouds .... superb and lovely shots

Ian Warren wrote:

QUOTE (Ian Warren @ Jan 15 2009, 10:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

One thing i enjoy is watching the sky - like incoming - the super weather bombs , Andrew , those snaps explain exactly why I stand out in the rain many times , watching the clouds .... superb and lovely shots

Know what you mean Ian- watching the storm in Brighton that I mentioned in the first post of this topic was one of my most memorable nights from my travel overseas... just standing out on a balcony with my mates, beer in hand, marveling at the beautiful colour filled flashes in the distance over the English Channel. It was totally dry and warm where we were in the town, but what amazed me most was even though the size of the lightning forkes and clouds were huge in comparison to the concrete blocks of flats surrounding us, they were completely silent, apart from the occasional distant rumble. Nothing like the purity of nature to really open your eyes after staring at a computer or tv screen for hours on end!

Trolly wrote:

QUOTE (Trolly @ Jan 15 2009, 10:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

... just standing out on a baloney with my mates, beer in hand,

Naki wrote:

QUOTE (Naki @ Jan 15 2009, 11:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Trolly wrote:

QUOTE (Trolly @ Jan 15 2009, 10:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

... just standing out on a baloney with my mates, beer in hand,

I know you know I meant to type balcony Paul!
Better go and change that before anyone else notices my spelling mistake

That is amazing

Those weather watch lightning pics are superb!

i was outside for a good 2 1/2 hours, twas mayhem round our house strikes everywhere around us, we also got a hit on the roof had a power cut for 4 hours after the storm. i love them, we have like 6 laptops in the house so we could still do stuff, and having a generator helps

batteries were dead in the camera but i wouldnt have been fast enough to capture a bolt.

i also saw some pretty long horrizontal strikes, just didnt hit the earth, came down swerved and went a couple 100 metres accross a paddock and hit a tree (no damage, or jesus face imprinted onto it )

it all kinda brings a bit of nostalgia cos it reminds me alot of back home in the UK with the storms rumbling off across the plains and having to go heard the cattle and sheep in

You should have seen the storm I saw nearing Alice Springs at 37,000ft!! Huge! The plane wet around it. I was watching a movie and my window kept lighting up. I thought at first the strobe light must be alternating between dim and bright but I then looked out the window and saw a huge storm. Great view from above!