Posted at 12:23 p.m., Wednesday, February 20, 2002
Big Island hit by thunderstorm
Advertiser Staff
HILO, Hawai'i A sudden winter storm that caused lightning strikes and loud thunder claps struck the eastern side of the Big Island today from 3 a.m. until after 6 a.m.Officials said there were several short power outages.
Fire investigators also were probing the cause of a Kea'au house fire that may have resulted from a lightning strike. The fire, reported at 6:16 a.m., caused $40,000 in damage to the 19th Avenue home.
Bill Davis, Civil Defense Administrator, said there was some roadway ponding around 5 a.m. He knew of no reported flooding problems.
The lightning strikes knocked Hilo's two major AM stations off the air for more than a hour.
