Lightning in Cass County, Minnesota

A positive bolt of lightning struck a large red pine tree on a cul-de-sac on the south side of Loon Lake just southeast of the town of Pequot Lakes. The bolt caused extensive damage to one of the homes on the cul-de-sac including blowing out two well systems, burning the electric lines into the home, damaged a water line along with a water heater and water softener, blew off multiple tongue and groove boards, insulation and soffit on the house and a shed, destroyed internet and phone lines and all equipment connected to it, and had several wires burn and melt, leading to a smoky haze in the home. All of the homes on the cul-de-sac had some degree of damage, ranging from blown outlets to warped soffit pieces to blown out wells.

Showers developed ahead of an area of low pressure across central Minnesota in the Brainerd Lakes area during the early morning hours of the 22nd. Activity was mainly showers with limited instability present. One shower did produce some isolated lightning, including a few positive bolts. One of these positive bolts struck a large tree just south of Loon Lake near the town of Pequot Lakes and caused extensive damage to homes along a cul-de-sac.