Video captured the destruction of a California post office after an area near the building was struck by lightning. The frightening footage came as the state also suffered from one of the worst blizzards in recent years.
The Leggett, California post office was destroyed Friday afternoon after a lightning strike.
According to the man who filmed the destruction of the government building said that the nearby grocery store was not destroyed by the fire. The witness also reported that there was no injuries and that the employee inside had already left for the day.
Tragically, this evening, a post office along the North Coast of California was struck by lightning and burned down. It's been an absurd day of weather in California today. https://t.co/czoL7AotZh
— Colin McCarthy (@US_Stormwatch) March 2, 2024
The lightning reportedly struck a tree near the post office, causing the blaze. The destruction of the post office caused considerable issues for the small town.
California State Sen. Mike McGuire (D) requested that residents not travel through the area affected by the storm.
Overall, Leggett has a population of about 100 people in the state’s famous Redwood forest.
The destruction of the post office also came amid a number of significant weather events in northern California. Communities experienced a variety of weather types Friday, including snow, hail, wind and lightning.
Some of the reported wind in the state exceeded 100 miles per hour. Several communities received several feet of snow.
Several parts of California were hit by the wintry conditions over the last several days. Some of the reported wind gusts reached 190 miles per hour.
Several towns in the state, including Soda Springs and Kingvale received 42 inches of snow. Several others reportedly received about three feet.
The storm caused the closure of a number of roads in the state, including a patch of Interstate 80. The area in northern California was shut down near the border with Nevada due to blizzard conditions. Overall, more than 50 miles of the highway were temporarily closed and several accidents were reported.
The blizzard warnings extended to the Sierra Nevada Mountains, where snow was expected to continue until Sunday morning. Heavy winds are also expected.
