I got caught in a torrential downpour plus son et lumiere while walking on the Downs around 5pm yesterday - diverted through the woods as being on the open common was marginally less inviting than the thought of a tree being blasted by an errant bolt! Very strng winds as well. Then opted for a bus. Boy did it hammer down! Funny smell in the air almost as soon as the rain started, dunno if it was ozone which I vaguely recall being associated with stormy weather, certainly wasn't that damp earth smell you get after a dry spell. Heard more rain during the evening but no idea how intense it was. Had to divert again this morning due to a large flood, blocked drains bung full of leaves and earthy detritus carried down hill from the multitude of building sites littering the roads around here.
Wish I'd seen the fireball!