A Tree at the end of our Yard Just Struck by Lightning!

By DE
@DaddyEvil (148843)
United States
May 24, 2025 6:19am CST
I was reading my book when I heard a LOUD CRACK! I went and looked out the window in the kitchen and can see a tree at the end of our back yard is smoking... I can't tell how much damage was done and can't see any limbs down. Hopefully, when it stops storming, I'll be able to get out in the back yard with my phone and see if I can tell where the lightning struck. I'll post a photo if I can see the damage then.
20 people like this
16 responses
@LadyDuck (474694)
• Italy
15h
Be careful, I hope there are no other damages to your yard.
4 people like this
@DaddyEvil (148843)
• United States
15h
it's sort of light outside, even though the sun came up at 6 am but the clouds are so dark and thick, I think I'm only seeing the yard because I have the backyard light on. Thanks. I don't see anything else in the yard.
4 people like this
@LadyDuck (474694)
• Italy
15h
@DaddyEvil - It was dark here this morning, but later the sun came out. I am glad there are no other damages.
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (148843)
• United States
15h
@LadyDuck Thanks... I'm glad you got some sun today.
2 people like this
@FourWalls (74885)
• United States
11h
It’s amazing (in both an astonishment and a frightening way) to see what lightning does to a tree. I’ve seen videos on YouTube of trees getting hit by lightning (captured on security cams), and it blows the bark off the tree, puts a charred mark down the tree, etc. I’m glad it didn’t hit your house, and I would like to see a photo once you’re able to get a picture of it. (There are flood warnings out all over the Midwest, so you might have to take a boat down to the tree to see what happened. )
4 people like this
@DaddyEvil (148843)
• United States
6h
I can't see any damage on this side of the tree. I'll have to wait until Pretty wakes up and can help me get into the culvert to see the back side of it... There's water in the culvert now. IF one of us can see the back of the tree, we'll get a photo and I'll post it after while. No boat here... We might have to wait to see the back side.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (163680)
• United States
5h
Wow. I am glad you are safe inside. I will be looking for further posts.
3 people like this
@DaddyEvil (148843)
• United States
5h
Thanks... I can't see any damage on this side of the tree but can't get into the culvert by myself so will have to wait until Pretty wakes up and get her to go out with me to see the other side of the tree.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (98465)
• United States
12h
I hope no more damage was done. We got a tornado warning last night, but I don’t know if any touched down overnight.
3 people like this
@AmbiePam (98465)
• United States
6h
@DaddyEvil Doesn’t look like any tornadoes. Just a lot of people without power.
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (148843)
• United States
6h
@AmbiePam Doing without power is better than a tornado any day!
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (148843)
• United States
6h
I hope none touched down near you. Good luck!
1 person likes this
@crossbones27 (50650)
• Mojave, California
7h
Wow, be safe buddy. That lightning is no joke and scary, but sure it passed your place by now. I never seen one hit a tree, let us know the damage. I heard they can split trees in half to just some burnt leaves. That's crazy and why you do not want to go under a tree if it is lightning out kids.
3 people like this
@DaddyEvil (148843)
• United States
7h
Thanks... I walked back there but can't see the back side of the tree from our yard and will need help getting down into the culvert to see the other side. Pretty is asleep and I don't want her to yell at me for waking her up. When she gets up, I'll get her to walk back there with me. She can go into the culvert and see if there's damage on the other side. The culvert has water running through it now but it doesn't look too deep.
2 people like this
• Mojave, California
6h
@DaddyEvil Yeah. put her to work. I am sure she will want to see the damage too. How is the tornado's there? I heard they ravaging that area, any flooding? That storm better not mess with my Cardinal game. I do hope everyone is OK there.
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (148843)
• United States
6h
@crossbones27 She might not want to get her shoes/feet wet. If she'll help me, I don't mind getting wet. There were 5 tornadoes in Missouri last night in Henry, Benton and St. Clair counties but none of those are near us. I checked a map of Missouri and those counties are North of us about in the middle of the state. We're in Lawrence county at the Southern edge of the state. Edit to add the Missouri state map with the counties shown.
https://uscountymaps.com/wp-content/uploads/Missouri-County-Map.jpg
3 people like this
@rebelann (114008)
• El Paso, Texas
12h
Yikes, that'd scare tha bageeezas outta me I hope the tree survives, we need all the trees we can get
3 people like this
@rebelann (114008)
• El Paso, Texas
6h
Maybe your tree is a lucky one. My grandpa had a tree that had been struck and although the top was dried up it still had greens on the lower part of it. This was way back in 1955 when I saw it.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (148843)
• United States
6h
I can't see damage on this side of the tree but would need to go into the culvert to see the other side of it.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (189921)
• United States
14h
Wow, that hit close to home! Glad it didn't hit your house or cause a fire.
3 people like this
@DaddyEvil (148843)
• United States
6h
Thanks.... When we were still living in our last house, lightning hit the roof there. We could see some damage and it caused fire to shoot out of the electrical outlet in my bedroom! I had just gone to sleep and that scared the crap out of me! It sounded like a gunshot went off in my bedroom and I yelled. Pretty came running into my bedroom, asking if I was okay... We both saw fire shooting out of the outlet... It fried the wiring and the outlet cover was melted off. The landlord came over the next day to check on the damage. He checked the wiring and made sure the breakers and that outlet was on its own breaker. He shut it off and asked if I normally used that outlet? Since I didn't use it, he said he wouldn't replace it until we moved out, if that ever happened.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (146126)
• India
Just now
Your tree took the load and saved you all We have had that experience years ago
1 person likes this
• China
13h
You must have been startled by the thunder at that point ! Good thing ! it didn't cause any other damage !
3 people like this
@DaddyEvil (148843)
• United States
6h
Yes, the sound startled me. I hope there's no damage back there.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (95073)
• Arvada, Colorado
10h
Thank God it wasn't one of you.
3 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (116415)
• Marion, Ohio
13h
Glad it only hit the tree
3 people like this
@DaddyEvil (148843)
• United States
6h
Me, too!
3 people like this
@RasmaSandra (85210)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
6h
Be careful and glad that tree did not come tumbling down on your house,
3 people like this
@DaddyEvil (148843)
• United States
5h
Thanks... That tree is at the end of our yard and our yard it BIG! We do have trees closer to our house but none close enough to fall on the house.
1 person likes this
@KristenH (33509)
• Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
4h
How scary and frightening. Be safe.
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (148843)
• United States
3h
Thank you. Everything looks fine out there.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (353964)
• Rockingham, Australia
14h
Gosh, that is getting way too close for comfort. I hope you all stay safe.
3 people like this
@DaddyEvil (148843)
• United States
14h
Thanks... I'm sure it will be fine. We hear lightning above our house all the time and nothing ever happens...
2 people like this
@jstory07 (144225)
• Roseburg, Oregon
Just now
I hope the tree does not fall down.
@Deepizzaguy (109963)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
3h
It is rare for a tree to be struck by lightning during a storm.
1 person likes this