SYDNEY -- The summer storms have truly arrived to dominate the east coast. As much as we'd love to be stripping off into our cossies and running to the beach, Aussies also don't mind a bit of storm action so they can show off their photo skills on multiple social media accounts.
For almost a week, Sydney has been slammed with storm after storm and some wild lightning. Brisbane hasn't fared much better with the Queensland capital being hit at the end of November by possibly the worst storm since 1985 and another monster rolling in on Thursday night. These events, that are often likened to the end of the world by overexcited witnesses, make for some pretty impressive Instagrams.
Summer storms are common across Australia and the Bureau of Meteorology's recent Climate Outlook indicates an El Niño related weather pattern is developing which will bring a hotter and drier summer. This means the potential for spectacular thunder and lightning storms increases, a NSW State Emergency Services spokesperson told ABC.
When a storm hits every day for five days, people get a little bit crazy-eyed about snapping the latest strike of lightning or the single dark cloud creeping in to eat them alive. Here are the results:
I got on @buzzfeed! Always cool getting on one of the biggest sites in the world! This video is part of my latest #timelapse #shortfilm, watch it here www.bit.ly/sydneysuperstorm #buzzfeed #oz #buzzfeedoz A video posted by Matthew Vandeputte (@matjoez) on Dec 12, 2014 at 12:23am PST
And they're back again, brothers thunder & lightning! #storm #brisbane #rain #lightning ... http://t.co/ysKBMsbLQz pic.twitter.com/o3l7HhTy6T— InstaBrisbane (@InstaBrisbane) December 11, 2014
My first ever lighting capture over Sydney. Insanely wild out there this evening. @canonaustralia @australia #sydneystorm A photo posted by Asher Shellim (@ashershellim) on Dec 12, 2014 at 1:18am PST
Brilliant pic by Luke Marsden from #goldcoast of today's #storm clouds @couriermail pic.twitter.com/olnzJaojpf— Chris Bartlett (@bartman6) December 9, 2014
Another day another summer storm in Sydney! This one was crazy, shot off Bilgola Beach headland. A photo posted by James (@james_travel10) on Dec 12, 2014 at 10:42pm PST
@smh One from a wedding I was shooting at Bilgola Beach as the storm rolled in on Friday #sydneystorm pic.twitter.com/TPyrSYupFX— Robert Meredith (@robert_meredith) December 7, 2014
Another summer storm here in Sydney Australia! pic.twitter.com/sKq0s9Ks1G— Michael J Hagan (@koolMJ) December 8, 2014
And here we go again, #Sydney. #sydneystorm #storm pic.twitter.com/Mw184TDiS6— Jason Cupitt (@JasonCupitt) December 6, 2014
'Sydney Super Storm - A timelapse short film' is now live on my youtube channel! Link in bio :) enjoy watching it, use headphones if you can! #sydneystorm #sydneyweather #storm #stormchasing #superstorm #lightning #shortfilm @australia @canonaustralia @kesslercrane @visitnsw @sydney A photo posted by Matthew Vandeputte (@matjoez) on Dec 12, 2014 at 12:13pm PST
Huge storm approaching. #mosman @photosSMH pic.twitter.com/up4RUnpJL1— Edwina Pickles (@EdwinaPickles) December 5, 2014
Here comes the weather #manlybeach #storm #sydney pic.twitter.com/qAmZPpht9o— Sacha Trube (@Sacha00Z) December 5, 2014
Stunning pic of series of lightning bolts taken over 1/2 hour period in Sydney, Australia last week by Roland Taylor: pic.twitter.com/1x37obyCyU— Tom Kierein (@TomKierein) December 10, 2014
Great photo of lightning strike over Sydney harbour pic.twitter.com/i2xa9m4Itz— Trent Collins (@tcollins) December 5, 2014