20,000 lightning strikes (+ Isay)

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HOT SPOTS: A map from MetService shows thousands of lightning strikes in the 24-hours to 8am.

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How was that for a cracker storm? Thunder and lightning roared over Waikato skies last night in an incredible electrical storm which struck the North Island.

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An astounding 1500 lightning strikes reportedly cut through Waikato skies when the storm erupted and continued through the night.

Thunder and lightning crackled into life shortly after 11pm, and again at 3am, waking residents, frightening animals and shaking houses.

While minimal damage was reported, Air New Zealand flight NZ992 flying from Sydney to Hamilton was hit by lightning shortly before landing last night and was diverted to Auckland, about 11pm.

Hamilton man Kee Mong Chui and his wife May were two of the 49 passengers onboard the flight. Mr Chui said no one panicked during the eventful trip.

"They (the flight crew) kept everyone calm and informed. It was a bit bumpy, but it was okay." He said he and his wife could see Hamilton Airport as they headed north. They were bused back to Hamilton and got home at 2.30 this morning.

Air New Zealand spokeswoman Tracey Palmer said lightning struck the Airbus A320 plane on the nose about 40 nautical miles southwest of Hamilton, but the plane's airworthiness was never in jeopardy.

Back on land, More FM breakfast announcer KM Adams said lightning tripped the Tower Building alarm above CentrePlace and Hamilton Fire Brigade was working to shut down the alarm at 5.45am when she arrived for work.

"We didn't get in until 6.45am. The lifts weren't working and none of the studio phones were working."

Ms Adams said she and her co-hosts had to start the breakfast show with alarms sounding in the background.

"It was very loud."

Hamilton Fire Brigade station officer Darren Bowler said the service was called to six false alarms after 3am, for building alarms that had been set off by the strikes.

However, he said there was no damage to any of the Hamilton central business district buildings.

Hamilton City Council had no reports of damage, but a horse in Cambridge was put down after it ran through a fence and broke a leg.

More than 20,000 lightning strikes were recorded over the country during the 24-hours to 7.30am today, according to MetService duty forecaster Chris Noble.

"Lightning is not an uncommon event but to have that amount in a 24-hour period, that's pretty significant in terms of a front moving up the country followed by unstable showers."

While the cold front would ease this morning, he warned residents to expect similar conditions tomorrow morning when another fast-moving front starts moving up from Fiordland tonight.

The fronts would bring snow to mountains in both islands, he said.

The Waikato Times was also contacted by a reader who reported seeing a tornado over the skies of north Hamilton yesterday.

Meanwhile Waikato's electricity networks got off lightly.

Wel Networks chief executive Julian Elder said there were no major problems.

That was also the case with Waipa Networks.

Do you have a storm story or photo? We want to hear from you. Click here to e-mail us with your views and news or call us on 849-9665.

- © Fairfax NZ News