The lightning strikes even caused small fires and damage across Southwest Washington and western Oregon
Cade Barker
The Reflector Newspaper
Most Clark and Cowlitz county residents were likely up early as a sunrise spectacular occurred with multiple heavy lightning-producing thunderstorms passing over the region on Thursday, July 16.
From around 4 through 9 a.m. for Clark County, with storm times extending further north, cloud-to-ground lightning illuminated the morning skies on both the west and east sides of the area as individual storms built power heading across the Columbia River on north and northwest tracks. By 7:40 a.m., KPTV Chief Meteorologist Mark Nelson reported the Portland Metro area experienced 378 lightning strikes from the storms, with that number growing as the morning went on.
The lightning strikes even caused small fires and damage across Southwest Washington and western Oregon.
The Port of Ridgefield reported that at 6:18 a.m. on Thursday morning the beloved Osprey Cam may have been struck by lightning. The port district stated in a social media post that the Ospreys appear to be OK as workers observed the birds flying. However, the port added that the camera will likely be down for the rest of the season due to the storm damage.
In Woodland, Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue investigated significant damage to a Woodland industrial business in the 700 block of West Scott Avenue after it was struck by lightning in the early morning storms.
“CCFR responded to an investigation of a lightning strike and found multiple power related issues and fire in the walls,” Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue stated on social media. “Crews removed the siding to access the hidden areas behind high voltage electrical boxes. (The) fire was controlled and (the) business will be out of service for a while for repairs and inspections.”
A couple of power poles in Clark County also fell victim to lightning strikes, as reported by KATU News’ Mike Warner in Vancouver.
Despite the damaging lightning strikes, no special weather statements were issued by the National Weather Service for Clark County during the thunderstorm event on July 16.
This report was first published by The Reflector Newspaper. Cade Barker can be reached at cade.barker@thereflector.com.
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