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Lightning Bolt Splits Tree In San Francisco's National Cemetery

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- A huge tree in San Francisco's Presidio was no match for the wild Bay Area weather Monday morning.

A powerful and fast moving storm brought downpours and lightning strikes. One bolt caused a eucalyptus tree at the San Francisco National Cemetery to split in half.

Cemetery groundskeeper Brandon Hatt was just a few feet away when the tree was hit.

"And I see a flash probably three times as bright as the sun," he said. "I look over and lightning just totally obliterated that tree, totally destroyed it. It was like if God went bowling. My ears are still ringing. Just an echoing wave, a booming wave."

tree split in half presidio san francisco
(CBS SF)

Around the Bay Area, umbrellas and rain boots are the order of the day on this second rainy Monday in a row.

RELATED: 'Holy Lightning!' 8 Priceless Reactions To Bay Area Stormy Weather

It's just a taste of what's to come if El Niño proves to be everything forecasters say it will be.

 

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