Lightning Hits Tree Sends Debris Flying into Barn, Jeep

A massive lightning storm that hit Western Washington Sunday night reached a handful of lightning bolts into Lewis County, including at least one that torched a tree near Napavine. 

Meteorologist Arthur Gaebel of the National Weather Service in Seattle said the widespread nature of the storm, which came after a particularly warm day in the region, took the service by surprise. 

“It was actually a front that came through last night, late last night, that basically stretched from the Canadian border to just north of Long Beach,” he said. “We were looking at some possible storms, I don’t think we really saw this as widespread as it is.”

Gaebel said the National Weather Service didn’t hear reports of major damage from the storm. 

However, in Lewis County, at least one massive lightning bolt wreaked havoc on a property and resulted in a late-night callout for Lewis County Fire District 5. 

“I believe the initial response was a brush fire with flames seen, and then it was updated to say a shed on fire,” said Laura Hanson, public information officer for the district.

Crews responded at 11:07 p.m. Sunday to the 200 block of Conrad Road and saw the tree on fire. Neighbors reported the large tree had been hit by lightning before, Hanson said. 

“It was kind of scraggly on the top to begin with,” she said. 

The impact from the lightning strike sent shards of the tree flying, causing a portion to go through a barn’s roof and another to impale a Jeep’s windshield. 

“The debris field is amazing,” Hanson said. 

Residents in the immediate area reported disturbances to power in homes and outbuildings, she added. 

Firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the fire in the tree, which did not survive the incident. No injuries to people or animals were reported. 

According to Gaebel, the weather in Southwest Washington should return to partly cloudy and cool through Friday, which he added is more typical weather for early summer.