Initial Reports: Lightning Strikes Twice In North Madison Wednesday Morning

This story was posted at 8:39 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 15:

The North Madison Volunteer Fire Co. responded to several calls Wednesday morning after a fast-moving thunderstorm moved through the area.

Initial unconfirmed reports from two North Madison residents who spoke with emergency responders on the scene indicate that both calls may have been related to lightning strikes as a storm moved through the region.

A third call relating to North Madison came in around 8:41 a.m. about wires down near County Road and Lakewood Drive, also in North Madison.

North Madison Volunteer Fire Co. Fire Chief Don MacMillan said Wednesday morning that the Madison Fire Marshal's office has software that may be able to confirm whether the incidents this morning were related to lightning strikes. He said the calls did come through as a thunderstorm was moving through the area, but that it could not be immediately confirmed whether the incidents were caused by lightning strikes.

He did confirm that North Madison Volunteer Fire Co. responded to the scene of two calls Wednesday morning during the storm, along with a third call relating to wires down after a tree fell near County Road and Lakewood Drive. He said firefighters were still on the scene of the call on Genesee Lane.

"A fast moving but intense thunderstorm caused a fire in a Genesee Lane basement this morning at around 7:00 am," said North Madison residen Tom Tung. "North Madison firefighters responded to the scene and think the cause is likely due to lightning.  The fire was put out and smoke could be seen being vented."

The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook for the region.

Another North Madison resident on the scene also reported that one apparent lightning strike at 146 Genesse Lane, just north of Old Toll Road in North Madison, appears to have caused a small basement fire and that no one was hurt. Firefighters and emergency responders on the scene of that incident said it appears as though it may have been one of two lightning strikes in North Madison this morning, although that could not be immediately confirmed.

A 911 call also came through for a house at 8 Thames Way, off of Bradley Corners Road just south of Old Toll Road, in North Madison around the same time, at about 7:04 a.m. The second incident also did not appear to have caused much damage, the North Madison resident said emergency crews reported.

The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook for Madison and the surrounding area, saying that there will be "numerous thunderstorms developing along a slow-moving low pressure trough, especially from late this afternoon into this evening" and that they could "produce very heavy rain and damaging wind gusts."

In addition, the NWS says, "a slow moving cold front will move across from Friday afternoon through early Saturday, then low pressure may impact the region this weekend. These systems could produce thunderstorms with very heavy rain and gusty winds."

Here is the extended weather forecast:

• Today: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 11am. Some of the storms could produce small hail, gusty winds, heavy rain, and frequent lightning. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84. South wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
• Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 2am. Some of the storms could produce small hail, gusty winds, heavy rain, and frequent lightning. Patchy fog after 4am. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 67. Light east wind. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Thursday: Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 85. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 9 mph in the afternoon.
• Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 66. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
• Friday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 83. Light southwest wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
• Friday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Saturday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 79. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
• Saturday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
• Sunday: A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 77. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
• Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62.
• Monday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77.
• Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65.
• Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 77.