I saw lightning strikes close up twice. The first time, I was standing on a loading dock, watching the spectacle, when a lightning rod on the building across the yard was struck. I heard a distinct “PING” before the rumble of the thunder a fraction of a second later. The second time, I looked out a window when the tree across the street was struck. The thunder was instant and much more violent. It rattled the window frame. The tree had some scorch marks, but not much other damage. But… under the tree was a telephone distribution box. Our phone lines went out that moment. Oddly enough, the internet connection, running over the exact same wires, was unaffected.
Shoo! So did I in my earlier post.