Rare superbolt rattles homes in Tulsa, Oklahoma

A rare and exceptionally powerful lightning strike, known as a superbolt, struck Tulsa, Oklahoma, on May 25, 2025, causing structural damage and shaking nearby homes with an electrical discharge estimated between 228 000 and 280 000 amps.

A rare form of lightning known as a superbolt struck Tulsa on May 25. The bolt hit a tree next to a family’s home near 41^st Street and Yale Avenue, then jumped to the house, causing structural damage.

The superbolt struck the area at approximately 22:10 local time and carried an estimated current between 228 000 and 280 000 amps, according to the Weather.us lightning tracker. The strike reportedly shook multiple homes, with some residents on social media comparing it to an earthquake.

The resident of the house, Jason Rafferty, reported that the lightning traveled down their metal gutters, dislodging them along with some brickwork. The electrical discharge also extended into a neighbor’s yard, causing a water line to burst.

“It’s just like this blur for me, but I remember talking, laughing, having a glass of wine. Then all of a sudden, your power’s out, your ears are ringing, and you feel this force almost going through your body. It just felt like a bomb came out of nowhere and was dropped on the house,” said Jason.

Unlike typical negatively charged lightning strikes, superbolts are positively charged and significantly more powerful.

According to the National Weather Service (NWS), an average lightning bolt carries about 30 000 amps. A positively charged lightning strike, however, can be up to 10 times stronger and may release up to 300 000 amps.

Superbolts are rare, accounting for less than 5% of all lightning strikes that deliver a positive charge to the ground.

These positively charged discharges begin high in a storm cloud, typically in the anvil region, where positive particles accumulate.

When they strike the ground, superbolts tend to be longer and significantly more powerful than standard negatively charged bolts.

Feature image credit: OKWX Nerd

Rishav Kothari

I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.

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