#lightning

#lightning

Yosemite, Yosemite Valley, Mariposa Madera Foothills and Mariposa-Madera Lower Sierra were placed under an updated report for strong thunderstorms by the National Weather Service on Thursday at 8:29 p.m. The alert is in effect until 9 p.m. The storms are packing pea-sized hail (0.25 inches). At 8:29 p.m., Doppler radar tracked a strong thunderstorm over Bootjack, or 16 miles west of Yosemite South Entrance, moving northeast at 30 mph, states the NWS Hanford CA.

Units from Cal Fire CZU San Mateo-Santa Cruz spent Thursday checking terrain in Mid County and South County regions for any spot fires that might have been ignited by thunderbolts from a storm that passed through the area late Wednesday and early Thursday. Cal Fire said the region experienced 173 lightning strikes within a 24 hour period, five of which were confirmed within the unit's coverage area of Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties.

Thousands of lightning strikes sparked across the Bay Area and Central Coast Wednesday and Thursday as a low pressure system passed through, bringing with it a spattering of rain and a cooldown that is set to end as Friday and Saturday's temperatures heat up again. Over a 24-hour period from Wednesday to Thursday morning, approximately 5,000 lightning strikes touched down across the regions, said National Weather Service Meteorologist Nicole Sarment.

"This one has quite a bit of energy with it," Lewis said. "There is definitely concern for fire starts due to lightning strikes. I think lightning and wind are the biggest concerns right now."

The top of the longleaf pine tree exploded into fragments after being struck by lightning, sending debris flying into the backyard and pool, causing significant cleanup.

Residents are advised to seek shelter due to strong thunderstorms forecasted for Yosemite Valley and surrounding areas, with warnings of gusty winds and deadly lightning.