Weather January 15
'Sounded like a bomb': Lightning strikes tree in Hamilton
A Stuff reader said lightning struck a tree in Melville, Hamilton around 2.10am this morning, with damaged vehicles and a road covered in debris.
A nearby resident said she woke up to the "loudest bang ever," and said "it sounded like a bomb had gone off."
"There was another where a flash of lightning and a huge crash was at the same time, I said to my partner 'omg do you think the lightning hit something?'"
"Turned out it had hit a tree just down the road."
The flash of lightning was accompanied by super heavy rain, she said.
"Felt like it lasted like 30 mins with the thunder hitting super close before it started to move on but you could hear the rumbling and occasional flash for much longer."
A nearby resident said she woke up to the "loudest bang ever," and said "it sounded like a bomb had gone off."
"There was another where a flash of lightning and a huge crash was at the same time, I said to my partner 'omg do you think the lightning hit something?'"
"Turned out it had hit a tree just down the road."
The flash of lightning was accompanied by super heavy rain, she said.
"Felt like it lasted like 30 mins with the thunder hitting super close before it started to move on but you could hear the rumbling and occasional flash for much longer."