Lightning strike turns transformer into fireball in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina; Storm Erin developing into first hurricane of 2025

A massive storm wreaked havoc in South Carolina, leaving thousands of people without electricity as it ripped power lines in several areas of the southeastern states of the United States of America. The storm was accompanied by lightning, one of which hit a power transformer resulting in a fireball and explosion as vehicles passed it.

The video of the lightning strike and the resultant fireball was captured by a Mount Pleasant Police Department car dashcam. "A bit too much excitement for a Monday! The lightning strike caused our power outages and traffic delays. Fortunately, no one was injured, and @DominionEnergy responded quickly, restoring power and removing the downed wires," the police department posted on its X handle.The dashcam video shows lighting striking the power transformer as heavy rains lash the area. Cars and trucks are seen whizzing past as the transformer turns into a fireball on the west of the road while the powerline on the east also erupts into a blaze.

Mount Pleasant, the fourth-most populous city in South Carolina, lies in Charleston County which is nestled in the Lowcountry region of the state.

What is Dominion Energy?

Providing electricity to nearly 3.6 million homes and business establishments across three states - Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina, Dominion Energy is headquartered in Richmond, Va. The company also supplies regulated natural gas service to 500,000 customers in South Carolina.


According to information on the company's website, it is one of America's leading developers and operators of regulated offshore wind and solar power and the largest producer of carbon-free electricity in New England.

Storm Erin developing into a hurricane

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Erin is gaining strength in the Atlantic, according to AccuWeather meteorologists. The storm is on course to become the first hurricane of the North American 2025 season, weeks before the normal onset of the hurricane season in the Atlantic. Storm Erin will also become the first to make landfall in continental US in 2025.

It started forming off the western African coast, and is not gathering momentum as it moves across the Atlantic Ocean and nears the Caribbean and US mainland. The storm can be categorised as a hurricane by August 13. It can develop into a category 3 hurricane by August 16.