Lightning downs high-tension power line, causing outages in Modesto
A high-tension power line on McHenry Avenue was brought down by lightning Tuesday evening during the area’s recent storm.
As a result, a power outage affected approximately 545 customers. The outage started a little after 6 p.m. and lasted for about two hours, according to the Modesto Irrigation District, which provides power to the city.
The Modesto Fire Department discovered the downed lines near the intersection of McHenry and Robin Hood Drive. Firefighters also found a damaged pole, according to MFD Battalion Chief Jim Black.
MID crews worked for 10 hours to complete line repairs, according to MID spokesperson Melissa Williams. The road was closed during this time.
“We encourage everyone to stay away from downed power lines and report power emergencies to us online or by calling MID,” said Williams in a statement.
Another outage was reported on Fairland Avenue on Monday morning at about 7:20 a.m., but lasted only about an hour and a half.
Between Saturday and Tuesday morning, the Modesto area received 1.67 inches of rain, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Data showed that 1.45 inches of rain fell at the Modesto Airport in a 24-hour period ending Monday. The total surpassed the previous record of 0.94 inches set in 2000, according to the NOAA.
Residents can report downed lines, or view an outage map, at mid.org or by calling the agency at 209-526-7337.
This story was originally published February 18, 2026 at 2:53 PM with the headline "Lightning downs high-tension power line, causing outages in Modesto."
