'Like an explosion’: Readers react to loud thundersnow across Edinburgh in the early hours of Friday
Edinburgh natives would have been forgiven for thinking Armageddon was here, considering the year we've had up until now.
Mercifully, the bright flashes and loud bangs that woke hundreds of city residents in the early hours of Friday wasn't the end of world – but instead, a rare thundersnow storm.
At around 4.40am, social media erupted as the surprise thundersnow storm peaked with explosions and thunder and lightning.
Some people said they heard two bangs, one after the other, with the second the loudest, while others said that it could be a rare weather phenomenon ‘thundersnow’.
It seemed that the common thread was the noise woke most people up, with many asking what the cause was.
Such was the concern among people in Edinburgh, Police Scotland had to reassure locals that the 'explosions' were just the weather.
In a tweet, posted at 5.03am, the force said: “We have have received a number of calls regarding people concerned about explosions heard.
"Please do not be alarmed, we are currently experiencing thunder and lightning.”
Hundreds of Evening News readers took to social media to discuss the rare thundersnow storm – in many cases because they couldn’t get back to sleep.
Darren Greenidge wrote: "Wide awake now! I thought a building had collapsed, or a huge explosion by the Castle, or Mossmorran.”
Princess FJ Greasley-El Arabi commented: “Very loud bang in Canonmills and been up since. Terrifying noise. Did not sound like thunder – more of an explosion.”
Alistair Slaven said: "I was woken up by a flash of light and then the thunder – and wow it was loud. Looked outside and it was snowing heavily.”
Lee Skinner wrote: “Love thundersnow! Very rare to happen in Scotland.”
Cécile Tamdi Pierret said: “First one woke me up (in Leith). Still haven't been able to go back to sleep because the second one scared the living daylights out of me. Loudest and longest thunder I've ever heard. Seemed directly overhead.”
Gina Mcleod commented: “That first bang didn't sound like thunder at all. I wasn't sure until the sky lit up”
Ewan Holberg wrote: “Genuinely thought it was an explosion or a building had collapsed!”
Gavin Marks said: “Came out of Pure Gym at Exchange Crescent at 4:30am. Had my head down and there was a loud bang and bright light above me. There is a building which I think is part of Sheraton hotel that has moving lights usually and I thought that the lights had exploded.”
William Harrison MacDonald opined: “Woke me up. Was having a great dream. I was in the Sopranos.”
Connie Neilson commented: “I saw it. Big flash of light, followed by thunder. I was at the window watching a neighbour trying to get out through the snow. Not funny, but entertaining.”
Danielle Scott said: “I thought it was just strong winds until I seen the lightning. Scary stuff... I just hid under my duvet.”
Emma Brodie wrote: “Great cure for constipation to be fair.”
Barry Macpherson opined: “The flash before the bang was incredible, but the boom genuinely scared me. Never ever have I witnessed something on that scale before. I think if it was older people who don't have quick access to the Internet etc, they'd be worried and have probably called the police.”