Wild weather and the flash and crash of an explosive-sounding lightning strike over Dunedin scared many around the city on Tuesday night.
''I was on my way home and that hail hit. It was getting more and more intense, so I thought I would capture it on video.
''I was approaching home on Pine Hill and that's when it happened.
''I saw the flash - it shocked me a bit - but the boom was just incredible.
''The video doesn't do it justice. It was way louder.''
He said the strike appeared to be between Pine Hill and Mt Cargill.
Power was knocked out in the area and was not restored until about 9.30am yesterday.
It is believed a mini tornado hit Surrey St, South Dunedin, soon after the lightning strike.
It ripped branches from a tree, knocked over a stop sign and caused minor damage to a house and car.
Surrey St resident Callum Walker said it gave him ''a hell of a fright''.
''I was in the lounge and I heard this giant gust of wind.
''Then I heard a bang and I thought someone had come down the driveway. I looked outside and saw the tree out front had snapped.
''There was just the one big gust of wind and then it just stopped.''
MetService meteorologist Tom Adams said there were several lightning strikes across Otago overnight.
He said another front was forecast to hit Otago this morning, bringing heavy rain and severe gales to Southland and South Otago.
