Lightning — Fresno, California

2023-08-12 · near Shaver Lake Hgts, Fresno, California

Event narrative

Public report that that a lightning strike hit a tree, started a small fire; and downed the tree blocking both lanes of Dinkey Creek Rd. near the SR 168 exchange.

Wider weather episode

An upper level low pressure system which contained the remnant moisture from former Tropical Storm Eugene was situated off the California coast on August 12. This moisture helped fuel scattered thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening hours over the Sierra Nevada. A lightning strike from one of the thunderstorms downed a large tree and started a small fire near Shaver Lake during the evening.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (37.1013, -119.3180)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1112145. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.