Ferocious thunder, lightning, hail and torrential rain pummeled Central Hawke's Bay yesterday afternoon - but it was short lived.
The thunderstorm hit about 2.30pm and lasted no longer than an hour, leaving a mop-up job for shopkeepers and providing much needed moisture for farmers.
Metservice issued a severe weather warning about 9am yesterday advising the deluge may cause surface flooding, slips and make driving conditions hazardous while rivers and streams could rise rapidly.
But residents did not expect the dramatic scenes which followed.
"In 20 minutes we had 20mm at my house on Tiko Rd," CHB Mayor Peter Butler said. "The thunder rocked and rolled continuously for about 40 minutes - there was plenty of lightening along the length of the highway, from home I can see from Takapau to SH50 - it was quite spectacular."