BROOKLINE, MA – A destructive Tuesday night storm tore through Greater Boston, striking a local home with lightning, shattering bedrooms, and leaving tens of thousands of residents without power.
Direct Lightning Hit in Brookline
On Hammond Street in Brookline, a home sustained a direct hit from lightning while the resident, Reece Whiton, was standing just feet away in his kitchen.
The blast shook the entire structure, blowing an electrical outlet cover off the kitchen wall and filling the home with smoke and a distinct burning rubber odor. The lightning completely destroyed Whiton’s bedroom, though fortunately, no injuries were reported as the occupants evacuated immediately.
Massive Power Outages and Traffic Chaos
The severe weather left approximately 62,000 customers in the dark across the Greater Boston area.
The widespread outages caused hazardous conditions for drivers, particularly at major intersections like Hyde Park Avenue and Cummins Highway, where traffic lights remained dark for hours. Local drivers expressed deep concern over the potential for severe accidents at the unmonitored junction.
Restoration Efforts
Utility provider Eversource worked quickly through the night to restore electricity. By 9:00 p.m. Tuesday night, the company reported that power was 99% back online, with roughly 1,000 customers still waiting for service to be fully restored.
