More storms rock C. Oregon with hail, lightning

Another day of dark skies, thunder and flashes of lightning from intense thunderstorms on the High Desert also dropped quarter-sized or larger hail over some areas — and brought a dramatic cooldown by dark.

The National Weather Service issued severe thunderstorm warnings as the storms marched through Central Oregon, bringing rain but also hail photographed and recorded by many watching in awe.

At least 150 lightning strikes streaked across the sky, meaning more work for initial attack fire crews who have been very busy in recent days and weeks.

A National Weather Service spotter seven miles southeast of Bend reported hail one inch in diameter, and wasn’t alone in that measurement.

One benefit for those weary of the recent heat was a dramatic drop in temperatures — Bend Airport, which was 90 degrees just before 3 p.m., plummeted to 75 by 6:15 and 61 by just before 8 p.m.

NewsChannel 21’s Samantha O’Connor said more storms are expected to pop up Sunday afternoon, but farther east, likely sparing much of Central Oregon from another day of violent weather.