This is the moment brilliant lightning lit up the skies above Greater Manchester as storms moved into the region.
M.E.N readers shared video clips of the thunderstorms erupting in south Manchester, Trafford, Wigan, Bolton and Salford.
A slow-motion clip taken by Ian Jordan shows flickers of lightning illuminating the sky in Leigh.
Another video, taken by Helen Ball in Urmston, shows a cloudy pink sky lit up with a fork of lightning.
Meanwhile, video footage on Moss Lane, in Timperely, captures heavy downpours and blustery winds.
The torrential rain caused some roads to flood and traffic problems.
Two lanes of the M602, near Eccles, were shut after they became submerged by water.
There were also reports of flooding in Farnworth as well as the Trafford Centre.
In Milnrow on Kiln Lane, some cars were left submerged in the water, while the roof collapsed in an Asda in Rochdale.
A yellow weather alert had been issued by the Met Office warning of thunderstorms in the region from 1pm to 9pm on Thursday.
According to forecasters, there could be some more storms arriving later today and a new yellow weather alert has been issued by the Met Office.
The slow-moving showers are expected to break out this afternoon, turning heavy and perhaps thundery in some areas.
