1 NEWS' Dan Corbett gives graphic explanation of lightning after ferocious Auckland storm

December 4, 2018

NIWA says there were more than 30,000 lightning strikes across NZ today – Dan Corbett explains how they came to be.

1 NEWS’ weather expert Dan Corbett has given a graphic explanation of what causes lightning after this morning's ferocious thunder storm that battered Auckland and other parts of the North Island.

The storm has left a woman recovering from being struck by lightning in South Auckland and four farm animals dead. And some residents remain without power after lightning hit houses, disrupted flights and closed schools.

Flights were affected, and stock killed, in a tumultuous morning of thunder and lightning.

Corbett said the sky got noticeably darker as thunderstorms closed in this morning - a sure sigh of potential strikes.

Lightning begins as static charges in the rain clouds, he explained. 

Terry Jenner of Papatoetoe fire station says the Māngere fire happened as they had "fire engines racing all around South Auckland".

"Turbulent winds push moisture and frozen water droplets around. They bump into each other and these collisions create the electric charge.

They fill up the cloud - positive charges at the top, heavier, negative ones at the bottom."

Amy Buncuga, who recorded the strike, said she had to mute out her scream before sharing the video.

And of course, opposites attract.

"And very simply put, the negative charges fall to earth, the positive electricity rises from the ground. And when they connect, zap - lightning strikes."

As for the booming sound, that's caused by the increase of pressure and temperature in the air surrounding, and within a thunder bolt, our weatherman explained.

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