Severe thunderstorm warnings were issued across northern New England yesterday including New Hampshire, Vermont and Western and Central Maine, with lightening and heavy rain.

The Wales, ME Fire Department captured a pretty amazing shot of flames ripping through a tree after a lightening strike!

Wales Maine Fire Department Facebook page says this took place on Leeds Junction Road. Luckily, they were able to grab some amazing video before putting it out!

The thought of getting struck by lightening is pretty scary but luckily the chances are pretty slim.

According to National Geographic, the odd of being struck by lightening are about 1 in 700,000 per year, which equates to about 1 in 3,000 over your lifetime.

Arbor-Experts say that trees are most likely to be struck by lightening if the following apply:

  • In an open area
  • Near a body of water
  • On the edge of a forest or a group of trees
  • On a mountainside or hilltop
  • Growing close to a building
  • Decorated with strings of electric lights

The heat of the lightening is six times stronger than the sun, according to Arbor-Experts, reaching 56,000 degrees!   If the tree is wet, it usually won't light up. That's not the case if it's dry. Arbor-Experts says:

If lightning is able to reach the inner layers of the tree, the tree’s cells can begin to boil. Steam from the boiling water then explodes, dramatically cracking the bark or even causing it to fall off.

Thanks to the firefighters for getting the flames put out, and capturing this incredible video!

 

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