A downpour on Saturday resulted in the Bermuda Weather Service logging the second-highest level of rainfall recorded for a day in April since 1958.

The BWS recorded 2.77 inches of rainfall onshore on Saturday, while offshore, its radar captured much higher rainfall to the east-northeast.

The number falls short of the highest daily rainfall for the month of April when 3.11in were recorded in 1958.

Weather conditions deteriorated rapidly as an upper trough combined with an old frontal boundary right on top of the island, Michelle Pitcher, the director of the BWS, said.

“This allowed the rain and thunderstorms to develop right overhead,” she added.

“More often than not, we see these active weather systems just inside or outside the marine area as the island itself is a relatively small target in the ocean.

“Computer models also are not able to always capture the exact location of the heaviest showers and thunderstorms.

“Which is why it is beneficial for the weather service to be manned 24/7 so that in the event conditions begin to deteriorate more than originally forecast, our products and stakeholders can be updated as soon as possible.”

High pressure is expected to bring in sunnier weather, with winds swinging from westerly moderate winds to southwesterly winds.

During the storm, a camera captured a powerful lightning strike on a tree.

Ms Pitcher urged residents to exercise caution during such conditions.

She said: “It is always prudent to seek shelter during thunderstorms, though more often than not we can hear distant thunder on island that remains in the marine area and can easily give a false sense of security.

“Lightning can strike more than ten miles away from the centre of a thunderstorm.”

• For more information on lightning safety, visitwww.weather.gov