General August Weather

[NZstorm]

Cracking thunder! I have got some lightning photos, will process them in the morning.

[Manukau heads obs]

seems to be slowly weakining now
heading for the sack now
was a great thunderstorm

[jamie]

Oh man I didn't even know about this till now. Lucky u guys in Auckland. Sounds like u had a good show.

[Manukau heads obs]

I hope know one got up at dawn...blue skies out there to the west now after a weak frontal change went through here..wind has picked up and the temperature has picked up too
(looks better south of there, that next line)
the next system in the tasman is active too!

[NZstorm]

The storms looked to have become elevated as they moved off the sea, hence they made it to Grey Lynn.

I got a whole lot of b grade photos as I didn't make it to a good vantage point, I couldn't drive last night being a Friday!

This photo, the bolt is actually hitting the sky tower(hidden behind buildings). The tower was struck a number of times.

[NZstorm]

Photo here of storm over West Auckland approaching!

[Manukau heads obs]

yes, you could see that the blitzortung lightning tracker started picking up less as it moved in land...as it picks up the cloud to ground best, from what I understand
i.e as you say once it became elevated, there was mainly inter cloud, , dancing across the sky...which made for great sounding thunder, that starts off high (cracking sound) and ups low rumbling sound

good to see the photos

[NZstorm]

The next system looks like coming in after dark tomorrow Looks to be a chance of thunder activity making it to the west of the NI with Northland/Auckland being highest risk by the looks.

Some low level shear with tomorrows front coupled with 14C dewpoints, so an F1 tornado looks possible.

[Orion]

Sounds as if it's been very rackety and exciting up in Auckland!
Some low thin fog creeping in again here at present, and -0.4 degrees.

[David]

NZ Herald describing it as "one of the most spectacular thunderstorms in years"?
I saw lightning about every 5 minutes or so.

[Manukau heads obs]

it was better further west of you David

[David]

it was better further west of you David

I know but was it that much better? Thought I would have seen more lightning given it was night time

[Tornado Tim]

Hmmm, weatherwatch said it was the best lightning show in 10 years, I remember Auckland getting some very active storms in the early 2000's..... So its really subjective.....

[NZstorm]

I know but was it that much better?

the lightning was frequent in the far west, about every 5 seconds.

[Manukau heads obs]

Thought I would have seen more lightning given it was night time

there was alot of mid layer cloud that was blocking the lightning (and the heavy rain)

[David]

Ah ok it does sound like it was MUCH more active than it appeared from here, good stuff!!

[spwill]

It has been a very quiet Winter for thunderstorms, shame I missed the storms last night as I am in Napier.

Well done on the photos NZstorm

[spwill]

Back in Auckland tomorrow, looks like a reasonable chance for storms tomorrow evening for NW North Island

[Michael]

last night a good show here,could even see forks with the naked eye,unfortunately no pictures as have inferior equipment to say at the least.

[CHCH Weather Chaser]

Nice to see the sun out here today for the first time in what seems ages! Light winds, quite pleasant!

[NZstorm]

Nice day all round today.

I see Ricky's weather station got to 19C.

[KiwiWeather]

Great lightning shots! It is always a treat to see what you guys can capture.

[NZ Thunderstorm Soc]

last night a good show here,could even see forks with the naked eye,unfortunately no pictures as have inferior equipment to say at the least.

Nice to see some forks. In 'Badjelly the Witch' by Spike Milligan, it was recorded that some spoon and knife lightning was seen
Possibly not in Auckland last night.
Anyway, good to see a good thunderstorm at last and good reports.Shame we can't provide a good one down here as the weather is not quite suitable for such activity to happen.
C'mon roaring fourties, get your act into gear

[Vertigo]

Heres an interesting looking shelf(?) cloud, not sure if its clear, just getting used to this new phone..
http://imgur.com/hGui3

Edit: oh wow, thats huge.. fixing..
Edit2: Screw it, theres the link

Its a pretty well defined dense layer cloud, very large, but very short

[Manukau heads obs]

yeah, can see that from here...its the edge of a layer of alto cu (ie the good ol anti cyclonic gloom cloud)