Massive Redwood Tree Explodes After Lightning Strike in Santa Rosa

Powerful blast scatters debris across neighborhood, damaging nearby buildings

Apr. 11, 2026 at 5:20am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A dramatic landscape painting showing the silhouette of a massive redwood tree against a stormy, backlit sky, with the tree's upper branches obscured by swirling clouds and dramatic lighting, conveying the overwhelming power of the natural forces at play.The explosive force of a lightning strike lays bare the raw power of nature, as a once-towering redwood tree is reduced to a shattered remnant in a Santa Rosa neighborhood.Santa Rosa Today

A towering redwood tree in Santa Rosa's Oakmont Village was struck by lightning early Friday morning, causing the top half of the tree to explode and scatter debris up to 200 feet away. The intense blast damaged two nearby buildings, though no injuries were reported. Residents described the deafening sound of the strike and the startling sight of the tree being torn apart.

Why it matters

Tall, water-filled trees like redwoods are natural lightning rods, and extreme weather events like this are becoming more common as the climate changes. The incident highlights the risks posed by powerful storms and the need for communities to be prepared for potential damage to property and infrastructure.

The details

The lightning strike occurred around 5 a.m., instantly superheating the tree's liquid interior and causing it to rapidly expand into steam. This extreme internal pressure blew the top half of the redwood apart, scattering debris across a wide area. Two nearby buildings, the Monsignor Fahey Parish Center and an adjacent office building, were damaged, with the church being red-tagged and the office yellow-tagged pending safety inspections.

  • The lightning strike happened around 5 a.m. on Friday, April 11, 2026.

The players

David Morgan

A resident who lives across the street from the damaged tree.

Kaurel King

An Oakmont resident who lives a distance away from the incident but was still startled by the loud thunder.

Ira Lowenthal

The owner of the damaged office facility, who was relieved the damage was not as bad as initially feared.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Shocking, 'boom' and then a crack. The loudest thunder that I've ever heard. Immediately you have a little fear, because those trees are everywhere.”

— David Morgan, Resident

“The loudest thunder I have heard ever since I moved to the West Coast 45 years ago. It was incredibly loud. I woke up very startled, and the sky was all lit up.”

— Kaurel King, Resident

“One of the tenants called and said that the rear end of our building was crushed by a tree. I thought the whole tree had toppled over but it's not quite as bad as the church property.”

— Ira Lowenthal, Office building owner

What’s next

Safety inspections will continue on the damaged buildings to determine the extent of the repairs needed. The city will also assess the remaining portion of the tree and determine if it needs to be removed entirely.

The takeaway

This dramatic tree explosion serves as a stark reminder of the power of lightning and the risks posed by extreme weather events. As climate change continues to intensify storms, communities must be vigilant in preparing for potential damage to homes, businesses, and infrastructure.