SEE IT: Footage captured in Rufus, Oregon, showcases the moment upward lightning shoots into the sky due to nearby wind turbines in the area. #Oregon #Lightning #Severewx #FOXWeather
RUFUS, Ore. – People in rural parts of Oregon were graced with a wild lightning show that lit up the sky on Thursday.
A video captured in Rufus, Oregon, shows a severe line of storms moving through the area, creating dark, gloomy skies.
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While on the road, locals captured an astonishing moment when lightning seemed to shoot up from the ground.
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), a total of 3,728 ground lightning strikes occurred across Pendleton County, located about two hours away.
Upward lightning shoots into the sky in Oregon.
(Garret Hartung via Storyful)
The dark skyline was lit up for a moment before the strands of lightning bolts appeared, almost like trees growing from the ground.
According to the Royal Meteorological Society, upward lighting primarily occurs near positive cloud-to-ground flashes.
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“Upward discharges almost always occur from towers, tall buildings or mountain tops,” the NWS said in a statement. “In addition, they are thought to occur only when there is a rapid change in the charges aloft, most likely due to a very recent lightning strike.”
Footage captured by locals in Oregon shows astonishing upward lightning, seemingly shooting from the ground into the sky.
(Garret Hartung via Storyful)
The electric field change caused by prior flashes can make a tall, upwardly pointing object, such as a wind turbine or tower, create this phenomenon.
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Video footage shared by Garret Hartung via Storyful shows lightning amid tall wind turbines, which could explain the fascinating event.
