VANCOUVER -- Crews in Metro Vancouver are cleaning up after a wild lightning storm struck the region Monday night, creating a spectacle shared widely on social media.

Photos and video posted online captured the dramatic display as the storm moved across the region.

Some hail and heavy rainfall downed trees and branches and caused flooding on several Vancouver streets

Crews from BC Hydro worked through the night to restore power in parts of East Vancouver, Richmond and Surrey.

“These types of storms, while they are common in the Southern Interior, our crews down here don’t respond to them as often,” said B.C. Hydro spokesperson Susie Rieder. 

By 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, only about 340 customers across the Lower Mainland were still without power because of the storm.

Thunderstorms are a rare occurrence in Metro Vancouver.

“We live right next door to Mother Nature’s air conditioner, and the Pacific Ocean keeps our temperatures more moderate and also prevents such extreme events from happening," said Lisa Ervin, meteorologist with Environment Canada. 

Environment Canada's forecast for Vancouver shows the area might see more thunderstorms Tuesday night. There's a 60 per cent chance of showers throughout the day, with temperatures reaching no higher than 12 C.

With files from CTV News Vancouver's St. John Alexander