Lightning Blows Transformer in South Carolina, Knocking Out Power to Hundreds

A bolt of lightning hit an electrical transformer at the intersection of Highway 17 and Shelmore Boulevard in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, on 11 August, sending a fireball into the air that was captured on a police patrol car’s dash-camera. The explosion brought down power lines on both sides of the highway, darkened traffic signals at seven nearby intersections and cut electricity to hundreds of customers for roughly three hours, according to the Mount Pleasant Police Department. Dominion Energy crews replaced damaged equipment and restored service; authorities said no injuries were reported. The strike occurred during a line of strong thunderstorms moving up the South Carolina coast as forecasters monitored Tropical Storm Erin in the Atlantic, which the National Hurricane Center says could reach hurricane strength later this week.