The huge bolt was recorded as being six times
The huge bolt was recorded as being six times stronger than usual in Mitcham. (Picture: Lightningstrik.es )
If your evening was disturbed by a massive clap of thunder last night, it's because an of an epic lightning bolt.

The energy created by the 'positive strike' was around six times more powerful than a normal clap of thunder.

It echoed across most of South London and into Surrey yesterday evening at around 9.30pm.

Huge downpours rained down with parts of London left flooded by the bad weather.

Drivers even abandoned their cars as some roads were submerged due to the heavy rain.

At around 9pm people in both north and south London said they heard the massive crack, with it reported to have been around 90 kiloamps (kA).

The usual voltage of lightning strikes is said to be around 15kA.

One Twitter user said: 'Biggest lightning bolt I ever heard just cracked down in south London, sounded like an explosion! More please oh mighty Thor'

Another said: 'What the f*** was that? Lightning?'

Stephen, who lives in Mitcham, told Metro.co.uk: 'So I'd just got home from work and was having dinner, it had been raining all day but no thunder or lighting, just one of those long drizzly days.

'At about 8.45pm there was a sudden flash and a huge rolling boom. It sounded just a huge cannon had gone off, like the ones they fired for the Queen.

'For a moment, because of all the madness with Russia and Poland, I had a genuine thought of, "Oh god, what if it's an attack! Or some kind of electrical explosion?"

'I went on to Twitter to find lots of tweets about it as well, reassuringly it was just thunder but wow, someone really annoyed Thor last night.'

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One person said they heard the lightning in Canary Wharf, during the sudden 10-minute storm.

Nearly 20 miles away in Twickenham, south west London the bolt shook one person's house so much it sent brick dust down their chimney.

They said: 'Saw the flash in Twickenham and chimney shook so much at the bang that a bunch of brick dust came down.'

In Mitcham, south London, it was reported to have struck over the Common.



One person said: 'I pretty much jumped out of bed in a panic. From the map it looks like happened over the Mitcham Common Windmill Estate- where I am.'

Another added: 'Whatever just hit south London just now was not regular thunder and lighting.'

While another said the 'deafening explosion' startled them and left them 'quaking' from the vibrations.

In Dulwich, a few miles away, people said they felt the bolt shake the windows of their home.

It comes as Brits have been warned to brace themselves for 'atrocious' conditions with two days of non-stop rain expected.

Forecasters warned roads, homes and businesses could be flooded and transport services disrupted.

Roads, such as the M23 between Crawley and Peasepottage, remained shut this morning and commuters were told train services may be cancelled or delayed.

The Piccadilly line in London is part suspended due to 'difficult rail conditions caused by significant leaf fall.'

Near to 20 cars were left stuck in deep flood water, according to West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service.

Another yellow rain warning is now force across a large area of the UK for the whole of Thursday, from 12am until 11.59pm.

This covers an area stretching from Birmingham, Lincoln and Hull to north Wales, Liverpool and Manchester, as well as the east coast up to the Scottish border.

A third warning will come into force at 3pm on Thursday until 6pm on Friday for the east coast of Scotland, stretching from the English border up past Aberdeen with similar risks of flooding, and transport disruptions.