Salem, OR – A power outage swept through much of downtown Salem Thursday afternoon, following a brief but intense thunderstorm that brought both lightning and hail to the area. The outage, which occurred just after 12 p.m., left approximately 100 customers without power, with some areas initially affected by the loss of electricity including over 200 customers.
Portland General Electric’s outage map indicated that the power outage was caused by lightning strikes, particularly near South River Road, which disrupted service to nearly 60 customers. The utility provider has estimated that power will be restored by 8 p.m. Thursday evening.
The effects of the outage were felt throughout the downtown core, where streetlights, restaurants, and government buildings were left in the dark. As a thick layer of hail accumulated on streets and sidewalks, conditions became increasingly hazardous for both pedestrians and drivers. The situation was exacerbated by the loss of traffic signals, especially from Northeast Liberty Street to Northeast Summer Street, where traffic signals went out around 12:30 p.m., leaving intersections functioning as four-way stops.
Witnesses reported a large lightning strike just south of downtown moments before the power went out. One Reddit user also confirmed seeing a lightning strike in the vicinity of South River Road at the same time. The National Weather Service had previously forecasted a slight chance of thunderstorms throughout the afternoon and evening, adding to the unpredictability of the weather conditions.
As the storm passed, the hail began to melt, but the lingering effects of the power outage and the hazardous driving conditions continued to disrupt daily routines in the area. Authorities have advised residents to exercise caution when navigating the streets, and those affected by the outage are urged to stay informed on the progress of power restoration efforts.
With the storm’s unpredictable nature and more thunderstorms in the forecast, Salem residents are advised to remain vigilant as the evening unfolds.
