Lightning strikes trees in Wells farmyard

Bam Kaboom!  Those sounds late Sunday alerted local residents of approaching thunderstorms. Of course, when you hear thunder, you automatically anticipate and look for lightning.  Depending upon how close a storm is, a rumble of thunder will usually be followed rather quickly by a flash of lightning. 

Todd Wells watched the sky flicker — likely the light from distant thunderstorms — from his farm house, but didn’t anticipate the strong bolt of lightning that followed a clap of thunder.  Always an interested storm watcher, he had kept his eyes on the storm that moved southeasterly to the Lake Crystal and Mankato area; and  the northeastern sky for a storm approaching from that direction.  Then, he saw a exceedingly bright flash and a thunderous blast.  “I thought it was neat,” he said Monday, but was somewhat awed at the results.  

A lightning bolt struck two large trees in the Wells farmyard about 6 miles northwest of Springfield.  

It’s a proven fact that standing under a tree is one of the most dangerous places to be in a storm. And, for a good reason — trees protrude from the earth’s surface, making them frequent victims of direct lightning strikes.

Interesting things happen when lightning strikes a tree.