Thunder, lightning Tuesday night was expected

National Weather Service meteorologist Jay Neher says he wasn't surprised when rain showers along with thunder and lightning strikes hit parts of the Puget Sound area Tuesday evening. The Weather Service had predicted the convergence zone.

But the round of heavy rain, even though short-lived, caught some residents off-guard. But such spring storms are not unusual for this time of year, Neher said.

During the height of the spring storm, lightning strikes to transformers across Seattle caused scattered power outages, affecting a few hundred customers, Seattle City Light reported.

One North Capitol Hill man reported observing, from his home, a lightning strike a few miles north that set fire to a transformer box. A tree, a transformer box and a telephone pole it was attached to caught fire near Northeast 50th Street and 47th Avenue Northeast.

The City Light spokesman said late Tuesday night that several transformers and some telephone poles would need to be replaced.

Wednesday, the weather's expected to be better. After the possibility of morning showers, the Weather Service said the sun will reappear, with highs up to the mid-60s. Thursday should be more of the same, and Friday even warmer.

Charles E. Brown: 206-464-2206 or cbrown@seattletimes.com