Lightning strikes tree, propelling debris into Utah home and frightening dogs

WEST JORDAN — As Tuesday's spring storm dropped rain across the Wasatch Front, it literally hit close to home for one family.

It started out like a regular day for the Robergs.

"We were just hanging out in the house, getting ready for our stuff tonight, which is a big dance rehearsal, and my husband watching a little TV on the bed," Dianne Roberg recalled.

"And we heard lightning earlier that was close, one just prior about five minutes. And then this one hit and I was in the kitchen and he was right near it. And it exploded like, he felt like a bomb went off."

The lightning struck a large tree in the yard of the West Jordan home about 12:45 p.m., causing the tree to explode and propelling debris in all directions. A window shattered and the TV was damaged in the tumult, said West Jordan Fire Capt. Mike Bain. No one was injured.

"I just knew something was shattered. I heard glass and I came running down the hall. I had animals, my dogs, my cat. And we're still trying to locate Kitty, who was hanging out in the bedroom, so I'm trying to drag her out of the bed. But I can see her face; she looks OK," Roberg explained.

The dogs were upset because some of them are "gun shy," she said.

"It was kinda nasty. It's damaged not only the window, it shattered glass all over," according to Roberg. The blinds and drapes were also torn apart. Roberg thinks the drapes blocked the window glass from hitting her husband.

The tree struck by lightning, however, was already dead. The Robergs had planned to cut it down before the lightning "spewed the tree all over the driveway."

After moving up from southern Utah, the storm brought expected thunderstorms and rain showers throughout northern Utah through Tuesday afternoon. It was expected to clear by Wednesday morning but leave cool temperatures in its wake, KSL meteorologist Grant Weyman said.

Sunnier weather should arrive on Thursday and Friday, he said.

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