MARYVILLE, Tenn. (Smokies.LIVE Storm Center) — A lightning strike caused a power outage in parts of Maryville Tuesday evening, temporarily leaving customers without electricity before service was restored about an hour later.
According to the City of Maryville, the outage began around 5 p.m. and primarily affected Morganton Road from the intersection of William Blount Drive NE to Big Springs Road, along with portions of Newell and Partnership Park South.
City utility crews responded quickly and restored power in approximately one hour.
Officials thanked utility crews for their rapid response and expressed appreciation to customers for their patience during the outage.
Why does Tennessee see so much lightning?
Tennessee is one of the nation’s more lightning-prone states, especially during the summer. Warm, humid air flowing north from the Gulf of Mexico combines with daytime heating and occasional cooler air aloft to create an unstable atmosphere—ideal conditions for thunderstorms.
Those storms frequently produce cloud-to-ground lightning, particularly during the afternoon and evening when temperatures are at their highest. East Tennessee’s mountains and varied terrain can also help trigger storm development, increasing the number of thunderstorms during the warm season.
The Smokies.LIVE Storm Center reminds residents that when thunder roars, go indoors. If you can hear thunder, you’re close enough to be struck by lightning. Seek shelter inside a substantial building or a hard-topped vehicle and wait at least 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder before returning outdoors.
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