STUNNING pictures captured the drama as the county was struck by thousands of lightning strikes.
People reported seeing lightning “flashing continuously” along with “absolutely torrential” rain.
Sussex was hit by a thunderstorm at around midnight which lasted until around 2am this morning.
Sam Woodward, an amateur meteorologist, watched from his house in Patcham, Brighton, and said it was “fast moving and a bit messy”.
Harry Poulton submitted this fantastic picture his friend Winston Broderick took from the roof of the multistorey car park in Brighton Marina.
He said: “The picture was taken around 12.30am. The rain was absolutely torrential. The lightning was constant, every two seconds.”
One man, named only as Andy, said he watched the lightning from Brighton Racecourse and Ditchling Beacon.
He said: “It was just continuous, constantly rumbling.”
The country is said to have been hit by 36,000 lightning bolts last night.
Strog winds blew an 18ft trampoline on to rooftops in Worthing. It became wedged between two houses.
The Met Office has forecast potential thunder today, while tonight should be clear.
Tuesday should see showers in the afternoon and a risk of thunderstorms. The rest of the week also has the possibility of thunderstorms.
Glenn Goldring, a weather enthusiast from Hove, said: "The thunderstorm started at 0:45 am and lasted 30 minutes in Hove.
"In the heaviest burst the rainfall rate was 225.8mm per hour which is exceptionally heavy.
"My weather station recorded 10.6mm of rainfall in 30 minutes."
A yellow weather warning was issued for thunderstorms on Sunday, which ran from 8pm until 4am today.
The Met Office warned that driving conditions could be affected by spray, gusts and/or hail.
It also said there could be damage to buildings, possible flooding of a few homes and businesses and delays to train services and even some short term loss of power.
There have been three sewage outfall releases across Sussex today following last night's heavy rainfall.
Did you capture any pictures of the lightning last night? Make sure to email them to George.carden@newsquest.co.uk
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