Lightning strikes around Bay Area spark multiple wildfires

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KTVU News Photographer Martin Holeton captured the moment Sutro Tower was struck by lightening early Sunday morning.

Sunday morning was bright and noisy around the Bay Area and beyond as thunderstorms delivered flashes of lightning from the Monterey Peninsula to the northern end of Marin County.

Sutro Tower in San Francisco got zapped by lightning, one of the hundreds of reported lightning strikes on Sunday.

Cal Fire tweeted Sunday morning regarding three to five fires burning approximately 50 to 75 acres in the Round Valley area of Contra Costa County. Another Cal Fire unit said crews responded to seven fires in Santa Cruz County and four in San Mateo County.

Sutro Tower was in San Francisco was struck by lightning during a storm on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2020. Photo by Lukas Gilstrap

"Most presumed to have started from lightning strikes. Forward progress has been stopped on most of these fires," the unit for San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties tweeted. "We're working to get more resources, stretched thin due to heavy fire activity."

In Vallejo, the storm toppled a tree that crashed into a condominium development. The fire department said there were no injuries.

There have also been reports of power outages Sunday morning that could be separate from the rolling blackouts PG&E had implemented Saturday. The outages had been ordered by state regulators due to a heightened demand for electricity.

There is a red flag warning in effect in the Bay Area until Monday, partially because of the chance that lightning could ignite sparks in dry vegetation.

Viewers shared photos and videos of the powerful storm.

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Mary Jane Hack shared this photo of the storm in San Jose on Aug. 16, 2020.

Thunderstorms swept across the Bay Area on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2020. Photo submitted by Evan Peters.

A severe thunderstorm warning from the National Weather Service expired at 8 a.m. Sunday.

The scorching temperatures that have blanketed the San Francisco Bay Area may last for several more days. An excessive heat warning remains in effect until Wednesday.