More than 1200 lightning strikes were recorded by the MetService yesterday, with heavy rain washing away sections of road and causing slips in Hawke's Bay, as a series of thunderstorms moved over the central North Island.
Constable John Viljoen said a "huge downpour" had caused localised surface flooding and washed away a section of road near the Kaimata Rd intersection with SH2, north of Bay View about 7pm.
"It's just all come down and tried to make its way under the road, and washed some of it away. It's trying to take it away, the road is pretty well sunken down," Mr Viljoen said.
Kaimata Rd resident Charlie Hollis said his property had "torrential rain" and received about 15mm: "All the water has come down from the north side of the road and it just has nowhere to go.
"I've spoken to council about this, it's happened before. It's just all backed up and there is a whole heap of stuff in there blocking it and the water can't go anywhere."