Lightning in Matanuska Valley, Alaska

Lightning April 16, 2015 · Matanuska Valley, Alaska

$2K

Damage as recorded

Where the report was made, with tornadoes recorded within 15 miles over the years.

What the National Weather Service wrote

A lightning strike near Houston, AK knocked out power for more than 28,000 people.

The lightning strike at 5:42 p.m. affected the Intertie between Anchorage and Fairbanks, knocking out power from Willow to as far as North Pole and Salcha. According to Golden Valley Electric Association, strike knocked out 11 substations.

Power was restored to most people by 6:08 p.m., except some in the Cantwell area because of breaker problems in the Healy substation. Power was restored in Cantwell by 11:00 PM.

The wider storm

Early season convection resulted in a lighting strike that impacted tens of thousands of Alaskans, from the Southcentral region to the Interior.

Began near Wasilla (61.6746, -149.9349).

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event 564780. Narratives are written by the National Weather Service forecast office that issued the report.

Tornadoes near your address

See every tornado that passed near a place you know, measured to its path.