Overnight thunderstorms brought about 88,000 lightning strikes across New Zealand, with roughly a quarter hitting land, according to MetService.
The lightning strikes occurred during a Severe Thunderstorm Watch covering most of the North Island, beginning just before midnight. Meteorologist Alwyn Bakker explained that the storms were part of a large rain band moving across the country.
In Auckland, many people reported being woken up by thunder and lightning. By 3 a.m., weather stations in the region recorded heavy rainfall, with some places receiving over 20mm of rain in just an hour. Other parts of the North Island, including Taranaki and Wellington, saw similar downpours.
Despite the stormy night, the weather is expected to improve for the rest of the weekend, with sunny conditions predicted for much of the North Island.
