Residents across the North West were bracing themselves for big downpours on Monday evening but all the hype of the thunder and lightning failed to deliver the much-needed rain.

The city’s professional photographers and amateur snappers made the most of the lightning spectacle, setting social media abuzz with their best shots.

Dry lightning strikes caused smalls fires across the region – one reader reporting fire at her Kelvin property when lightning struck a tree, only to be extinguished by the rain.

About 8.30pm the storm cut power to more than 2600 homes and businesses in areas north of Tamworth including, Daruka, Moore Creek, Bendemeer, Moonbi and Watsons Creek.

Essential Energy regional general manager Ben Williams said the outage happened after a main powerline was struck by lightning and came down at George St, Moonbi.

“Tamworth-based Essential Energy crews rerouted the power network and restored power to the Kootingal, Moonbi, Tintinhull, Daruka and Moore Creek areas at around 11.30pm, while 439 households remained off in the Bendemeer and Watsons Creek areas until 3.55am Tuesday morning while Essential Energy crews completed repairs to the network,” he said.

Tamworth, Gunnedah and Inverell received 2mm out of Monday’s falls, while Guyra recorded the top of the table at 6mm.

Armidale, Mungindi and Woolbrook all recorded 4mm.

Monday’s storm follows on from a wild and windy hailstorm last Wednesday, which saw trees uprooted and debris scattered across homes and roads.

Additional SES crews from across the North West were called in to help with the clean-up.

Moree Bureau of Meteorology officer in charge Michael Glasson said these storms were common during late spring.

“Thunderstorm season runs from October to April but you can get them at any time of the year,” he said.