Strongest lightning storm since the 1940s delivers more than 400 bolts across region over a 24-hour period

Over 400 strikes in the Gisborne region, and hundreds more over the Bay of Plenty and off East Cape, as shown in this graphic from Meteologix. Image supplied

The frightening and furious power of nature hit the Gisborne-East Cape region with full force at the weekend, as the fiercest thunder and lightning storm in many years hit the region.

Records indicate it was the strongest lightning storm since the 1940s.

MetService meteorologist Dan Corrigan says there were were more than 400 strikes over the region in a 24-hour period.

Mr Corrigan says the powerful and long-lasting display was the creation of a slow-moving front and a very unstable convective system which produced strong updrafts.

The Meteologix lightning detection network showed the first activity developing off the Bay of Plenty and out to sea off East Cape during the day on Saturday.

Then, at 6.57pm, came a very strong discharge right off Gisborne’s coast — a strike rated as a “wild house shaker” by Meteologix.

It was a strike from cloud to sea, measured at 151kA (151,000 amperes) which produced a sonic shockwave strong enough to rattle houses and windows.

Normal lightning is about 30kA.

By 9.30pm strong lightning activity was right off East Cape, and by midnight was right over Gisborne.

The flashes and cannon-like thunderclaps  peaked between 1am and 3am, with another burst off East Cape in the early dawn.

Lightning discharges were still being recorded out to sea on Sunday afternoon.

Meteorologist Dan Corrigan says the bad weather will be moving away to sea today, but cautions that another bout of rain is heading the district’s way on Thursday and Friday.

Rainfall figures, see story page 2