lightning

Thunderstorms in Southern California may be rare, but when they do strike, they can turn deadly fast. Here's a story that illustrates just that.

Honestly, this number is higher than we thought. Better stay inside.

We sat outside and chatted and played dominos under the safety of our patio overhang and enjoyed the show. A large whirlpool formed on our street just off of Falls Avenue and rainwater completely drowned crosswalks and sidewalks.

I remember at one point poking my head out of the tent as the rain pounded the nylon roof above me, and a massive flash of electricity lit what appeared to be the face of a wolf standing near our smoldering campfire.

Over the past three decades, there have been an average of more than 40 human fatalities caused by lightning, according to information shared by the National Weather Service.

The video claims to have been taken in Montana during a storm when lightning struck the water and caused a massive explosion of water.

Bolts shot in every direction, and I remember waking at around 5:30 a.m. to once again calm our dog down, and the flashes were continuing outside our kitchen window.

A number of areas could be affected by scattered thunderstorms on Thursday, which, according to the National Weather Service, could cause lightning that in turn could start new fires.

Fire crews in southern Idaho have responded to several lightning caused fires since Friday. According to Bureau of Land Management fire officials, crews were called out to at least four fires, the largest is estimated to be 1,500 acres about 30 miles south of Buhl.

Lightning strikes have been the cause of several wildfires in North and Eastern Idaho this summer.

A fire is burning in a remote northeast corner of Nevada threatening ranches in the area near the state line of Utah and Nevada

UPDATE: A fire sparked by lightning has grown to an estimated 57,000 acres in southern Idaho.