(BIVN) – Thursday night’s thunderstorms over East Hawaii were recorded from above the clouds.

Lightning lit up the sky over Hilo, Puna and Hamakua last night. The severe weather also prompted a Flood Advisory for the area.

Lightning storms over Hawaii only occur a handful of times each year.

The Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope Cloud Camera is an experimental high sensitivity camera mounted to the catwalk of observatory on Mauna Kea. The purpose of the camera is to take pictures of clouds and other weather at night, even on moonless nights, the CFHT website says. It only operates from sunset to sunrise.

Hawaii is likely to see more on Friday. Already, at 7 a.m. this morning, thunderstorms were observed over the waters surrounding the Big Island. Mariners were warned of gusty winds to around 30 knots in a Marine Weather Statement issued by the National Weather Service.

“Intense lightning is occurring with these storms,” forecasters said. “If caught on the open water stay below deck if possible. Keep away from ungrounded metal objects.”

North Kohala was also under a Flood Advisory this morning.