Lightning — Marathon, Wisconsin

2007-10-06 · near Schofield, Marathon, Wisconsin

Event narrative

Lightning struck a 321 megawatt power plant in the Wausau area, causing damage severe enough to keep it off-line until late 2007 or early 2008. In addition to the cost of repairs to the plant, the utility company will have to pay at least an addition $30 million to purchase power to replace the amount that would have been generated by the plant while repairs are made. The plant was equipted with a state-of-the-art lightning suppression system that was operational at the time of the strike.

Wider weather episode

A lightning strike at a power plant in the Wausau area caused considerable damage to a power plant there.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (44.8585, -89.6500)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 63496. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.