Lightning causes power outage in Santa Rosa

A lightning strike at 4th Street and Farmers Lane caused a power outage affecting roughly 1,300 people in east Santa Rosa just after 7 a.m. this morning and snarling the morning commute.

The strike downed power lines and damaged equipment. The stop light at one of the city's busiest intersections is expected to be out all day, along with power to about 20 customers in that area.

Pacific Gas & Electric crews restored power to most other customers by 9 a.m., said Deanna Contreras, North Bay spokeswoman for the utility.

Utility crews are assessing the extant of the damage caused by the morning storm.

Wind and downed tree branches also took out power for another 100 people in downtown Santa Rosa, but electricity has been restored to most of those customers, Contreras said.

Check back for more details.

You can reach Staff Writer Nick Rahaim at 707-521-5203 or nick.rahaim@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @nrahaim.