The MetService's Rotorua rain radar reveals the intensity of the storm that struck the city shortly before 8pm on Wednesday. A sudden thunderstorm that hit Rotorua on Thursday night resulted in a flood of call-outs for firefighters in the city and nearby communities. The Fire Service were alerted to flooding-related emergencies in the suburbs of Hillcrest, Pukehangi, Sunnybrook, Whakarewarewa, Pomare and Springfield shortly before 8pm. Lightning strikes knocked out power in Ngongotaha and some parts of Rotorua. Fire Service northern communication shift manager Paul Radden said crews from the Rotorua, Ngongotaha and Mamaku fire stations attended numerous incidents, including a number of fire alarms that were triggered by the lightning storm.

Source: Stuff March 31, 2021 07:52 UTC