Milton Mini Storm - Chase May 7th 2010

A powerful low pressure system which brought severe storms and tornadoes to parts of Ohio pressed into Southern Ontario. The warm front was undercut by a strong easterly flow resulting in elevated thunderstorms. There was no severe weather or storm structure to see but there was some cloud to ground lightning. While watching lightning strike near two radio towers a nearby transformer was struck and exploded. I headed over and found significant lightning damage to the pole. It was amazing to see how when the lightning struck the pole the transformer literally blew apart. Most step down transformers are filled with refined-mineral oil, so when the lightning hit the oil probably turned to a gas nearly instantly and expanded so quickly it just blew the transformer apart.