Forget the fireworks. Mother Nature had her own pre-Independence Day celebration on Wednesday night when a storm rolled through New York City, bringing with it lightning brighter than the bulbs of Times Square.
Those with the speediest of fingers were able to capture some of the cloud-to-ground strikes over the iconic skyline. A few of our favorites from Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn are below.
As Hurricane Arthur makes its way up the East Coast, New York City and the rest of New England are looking at a soaking wet Fourth of July weekend -- no doubt with more lightning to come.
From Manhattan
Lighting strikes over the Empire State Building as a major storm comes in New York City July 2, 2014.
Credit: TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images
From Brooklyn
From Queens
Manhattan view vs. Brooklyn view
Who won the battle on (what we think) is the same strike? You be the judge.
With the United Nations and Tudor City in the foreground, lightning strikes in the sky over the East River as a major storm approaches New York City July 2, 2014.
Credit: TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images