300 to 400 lightning bolts shot cloud to cloud during Tri-Cities storm
A Monday evening natural light show dazzled many across the Tri-Cities and the Mid-Columbia region and also sent firefighters racing.
About two dozen bolts hit the ground and some 300 to 400 strikes surged from cloud to cloud, according to the National Weather Service.
While Walla Walla and Umatilla counties saw more activity, part of last night’s thunderstorms made its way northeast into the Tri-Cities, according to the weather service.
It blew through the area around 8 p.m. Monday. At it’s height, the Tri-Cities Airport reported 41 mph sustained winds and gusts of up to 52 mph.
Starting around 8:15 p.m., firefighting agencies responded to seven reports of grass fires.
Most of the reports either proved to be unfounded or the flames were out by the time firefighters arrived, according to radio traffic.
Firefighters did respond to one blaze near the intersection of South Amon Road and East Locust Grove Road. The fire burned about 10 acres of wildland before Benton County Fire District 1 put out the blaze, said Deputy Chief Scott LoParco.
Temperatures are expected to be sizzling hot again Tuesday and Wednesday, and there remains a chance for isolated thunderstorms in the Tri-Cities on Tuesday and into early Wednesday.
There is a marginal chance for a severe storm south and east of the Tri-Cities, said the weather service.
This story was originally published August 18, 2020 at 12:44 PM.