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Can you feel the electricity? 55 amazing photos of Tucson lightning
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Can you feel the electricity? 55 amazing photos of Tucson lightning

  • Arizona Daily Star
  • Jul 31, 2019
  • Jul 31, 2019 Updated Aug 30, 2019

These lightning photos were captured in years past by Arizona Daily Star photographers.

Tucson lightning

Tucson lightning

Father Eusebio Francisco Kino statue on Kino Parkway gets illuminated by a monsoon storm on Aug. 23, 2003.

David Sanders / Arizona Daily Star

Tucson lightning

Tucson lightning

This single strike lit up downtown Tucson (center) and its westside as seen from mile post one on Mount Lemmon's Catalina Highway on Sept. 8, 2009.

David Sanders / Arizona Daily Star

Tucson lightning

Tucson lightning

Bolts dance across the sky during a July 18, 2004 thunderstorm.

Francisco Medina / Tucson Citizen

Tucson lightning

Tucson lightning

It wasn't a good night for basketball on Tucson's far East Side. Lightning on the east side lights up the sky on Brooks Drive as this thunderstorm caused damage throughout Tucson on Sept. 21, 2006.

Francisco Medina / Tucson Citizen

Tucson lightning

Tucson lightning

A thunderstorm rumbled across the Tucson valley on Aug. 4, 2000.

Francisco Medina / Tucson Citizen

Tucson lightning

Tucson lightning

Lightning streaks across the sky as weather moves westward across the city on Aug. 6, 2012.

Ron Medvescek / Arizona Daily Star

Tucson lightning

Tucson lightning

Lightning strikes over the old railroad bridge just west of the Marsha Station Road I-10 interchange, about halfway between Tucson and Benson, on Aug. 4, 2005.

David Sanders / Arizona Daily Star

Tucson lightning

Tucson lightning

Lightning dances in the nighttime sky near Rita Road and Interstate 10 on Aug. 2, 2011, as a lighting storm moved through the Tucson area for about three hours.

David Sanders / Arizona Daily Star

Tucson lightning

Tucson lightning

A lightning bolt strikes as traffic moves westbound on Interstate 10 near Kolb Road on Aug. 2, 2011, as a lighting storm moved through the Tucson area for about three hours.

David Sanders / Arizona Daily Star

Tucson lightning

Tucson lightning

On a desolate Houghton Road just north of Corona de Tucson, a lightning storm lights up the night behind a roadside saguaro on Aug. 2, 2011, as a lighting storm moved through the Tucson area for about three hours.

David Sanders / Arizona Daily Star

Tucson lightning

Tucson lightning

A lightning bolt is a reminder as a storm passes through the Tucson area at sunset over the Holy Hope Cemetery near Prince and Oracle Road on Aug. 8, 2012.

David Sanders / Arizona Daily Star

Tucson lightning

Tucson lightning

An afternoon monsoon storm cell generates an intense lightning show with several ground strikes in the area around Gates Pass Rd. and Kinney Rd., Saturday August 29, 2015.

Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star

Tucson lightning

Tucson lightning

A bolt of lightning slams to earth near a stretch of power lines over El Camino Del Cerro as a series of storm cells dump rain over the Tucson Mountain area of town, Friday, June 10, 2016.

Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star

Tucson lightning

Tucson lightning

A bolt of lightning lights up the desert at Linda Vista and Camino de Oesta Monday, July 18th, 2005 as a storm moves through the Northwest.

Jim Davis / Arizona Daily Star

Tucson lightning

Tucson lightning

Several bolts strike just southwest of downtown, part of a monsoon storm that generated heavy lightning and some rain as it rolled over the area, Wednesday, July 12, 2017, Tucson, Ariz.

Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star

Tucson lightning

Tucson lightning

Several bolts of lightning strike the northeastern Rincon Mountains, part of the tail end of a monsoon storm that just skirted the city, Friday, August 4, 2017, Tucson, Ariz.

Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star

Tucson lightning

Tucson lightning

Monsoon 2017 not quite done yet, a cell rolled over the area bringing a little wind, a little rain and a little lightning, Saturday, August 26, 2017, Tucson, Ariz.

Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star

Tucson lightning

Tucson lightning

A lightning bolt appears to strike the antenna tower on top of the Bank of America Plaza building, part the heavy lightning generated by a monsoon storm that rolled over the area, Wednesday, July 12, 2017, Tucson, Ariz.

Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star

Lightning

Lightning

Lightning bolts from a monsoon slam into the Galiuro Mountains, northeast of Tucson.

Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star

Lightning in Downtown Tucson

Lightning in Downtown Tucson

Several bolts strike just southwest of downtown, part of a monsoon storm that generated heavy lightning and some rain as it rolled over the area, Wednesday, July 12, 2017, Tucson, Ariz.

Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star

Tucson monsoon

Tucson monsoon

Lightning and Ocotillo meet as a late evening storm moves across Oro Valley towards the Tucson Mountains on July 8, 2018 north of Tucson, AZ.

Ron Medvescek / Arizona Daily Star

Monsoon 2018

Monsoon 2018

A bolt hits in the Santa Rita Mountains southeast of the city as monsoon storms surround the valley, Tuesday, August 7, 2018, Tucson, Ariz.

Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star/

Monsoon 2018

Monsoon 2018

A bolt strikes just north of downtown, part of one of dozens of localized monsoon storm cells that moved through the area dumping rain, winds and lightning, Wednesday, August 22, 2018, Tucson, Ariz.

Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star

Tucson lightning

Tucson lightning

A bolt of lightning slams to earth near the corner of Drexel and Tucson on Aug. 8, 2006.

Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star

Tucson lightning

Tucson lightning

Lightning streaks across the sky as weather moves westward across the city on Aug. 6, 2012.

Ron Medvescek / Arizona Daily Star

Tucson lightning

Tucson lightning

In the aftermath of an evening summer storm, lightning arcs through the night skies over the Saguaro National Park West on Aug. 21, 2012.

Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star

Tucson lightning

Tucson lightning

Lightning strikes over top of Tucson Greyhound Park on 37th Street in Tucson, Ariz., on July 24, 2003.

Dean Knuth / Arizona Daily Star

Tucson lightning

Tucson lightning

Lightning strikes over top of Tucson Greyhound Park on 37th Street in Tucson, Ariz., on July 24, 2003.

Dean Knuth / Arizona Daily Star

Tucson lightning

Tucson lightning

Lightning strikes west of Tucson in this view from South Park Avenue and Interstate 10 on June 29, 2006.

Val Cañez / Tucson Citizen

Tucson lightning

Tucson lightning

Lightning strikes across the eastern end of the Santa Catalina Mountains on Aug. 14, 2000.

Val Cañez / Tucson Citizen

Tucson lightning

Tucson lightning

Lightning on the southwest side of town on June 30, 2013.

Benjie Sanders / Arizona Daily Star

Tucson lightning

Tucson lightning

Lightning on the southwest side of town on June 30, 2013.

Benjie Sanders / Arizona Daily Star

Tucson lightning

Tucson lightning

Lightning bolts strike on Tucson's south side as you look from "A" mountain on Aug. 22, 1996.

Linda Seeger Salazar / Arizona Daily Star

Tucson lightning

Tucson lightning

Lightning bolts striking on downtown Tucson on July 14, 1999.

Sergey Shayevich / Arizona Daily Star

Tucson lightning

Tucson lightning

Lightning rains down on the Santa Catalina Mountains as an early evening storm moves across the eastern end of Tucson on June 20, 2000.

David Sanders / Arizona Daily Star

Tucson lightning

Tucson lightning

A lightning show looms over Tucson on Aug. 14, 1999.

David Sanders / Arizona Daily Star

Tucson lightning

Tucson lightning

Lightning strikes a hillside on the west side of Tucson, Ariz., on June 29, 2006.

Chris Coduto / Arizona Daily Star

Tucson lightning

Tucson lightning

Lightning arks through the sky near South 44th Street on June 27, 2006.

Chris Coduto / Arizona Daily Star

Tucson lightning

Tucson lightning

Lightning strikes behind the stadium during a weather delay of the game between Sabino High School and Palo Verde High School on Sept. 9, 2011, in Tucson, Ariz.

Dean Knuth / Arizona Daily Star

Tucson lightning

Tucson lightning

Lightning slams into the western edge of the Catalina Mountains with the intersection of Grant and Campbell at the lower right on Aug. 8, 2006.

Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star

Tucson lightning

Tucson lightning

Saguaros watch unimpressed as a lightning storm passes through the northwest side on Aug. 9, 2006, in Tucson, Ariz.

Ron Medvescek / Arizona Daily Star

Tucson lightning

Tucson lightning

Saguaros watch unimpressed as a lightning storm passes through the northwest side on Aug. 9, 2006, in Tucson, Ariz.

Ron Medvescek / Arizona Daily Star

Tucson lightning

Tucson lightning

Lightning appears to grab the Santa Catalina Mountains like a claw during an evening lightning display on Aug. 11, 2004 in Tucson, Ariz.

David Sanders / Arizona Daily Star

Tucson lightning

Tucson lightning

Lightning strikes over the Santa Catalina Mountains as seen from west of Silverbell Road on July 16, 2010 in Tucson, Ariz.

James Gregg / Arizona Daily Star

Tucson lightning

Tucson lightning

Lightning strikes near some new KB homes at Valencia and I-10 as a storm moved into the Tucson area at sunset on July 20, 2005.

David Sanders / Arizona Daily Star

Tucson lightning

Tucson lightning

Lighting lights up the sky over the steeple at the Northminster Presbyterian Church as a storm moved through Tucson on July 19, 2011.

David Sanders / Arizona Daily Star

Tucson lightning

Tucson lightning

Lighting lights up the sky over the steeple at the Northminster Presbyterian Church as a storm moved through Tucson on July 19, 2011.

David Sanders / Arizona Daily Star

Tucson lightning

Tucson lightning

Lighting lights up the sky near Sabino Canyon Road and Snyder near Snyder Hill as a storm moved through Tucson on July 19, 2011.

David Sanders / Arizona Daily Star

Tucson lightning

Tucson lightning

Lightning strikes the Rincon mountains during an early evening thunderstorm on July 16, 2005 in Tucson, Ariz.

James S. Wood / Arizona Daily Star

Tucson lightning

Tucson lightning

A bolt of lightning lights up the desert at Linda Vista and Camino de Oesta on July 18, 2005 as a storm moves through the Northwest.

Jim Davis / Arizona Daily Star

Tucson lightning

Tucson lightning

Lightning strikes in the Santa Catalina Mountains behind downtown during an afternoon thunderstorm in Tucson, Ariz., on Aug. 24, 2010.

Greg Bryan / Arizona Daily Star

Tucson lightning

Tucson lightning

Lightning strikes behind the lake at Kennedy Park during an afternoon thunderstorm in Tucson, Ariz., on Aug. 24, 2010.

Greg Bryan / Arizona Daily Star

Tucson lightning

Tucson lightning

A lightning strike hits the Tucson Mountains west of Tucson on Aug. 24, 2010.

David Sanders / Arizona Daily Star

Tucson lightning

Tucson lightning

Lightning strikes a hillside near South Ajo Way and West Kinney Road on June 27, 2006.

Chris Coduto / Arizona Daily Star

Tucson lightning

Tucson lightning

Lightning arks through the sky near South 44th Street on June 27, 2006.

Chris Coduto / Arizona Daily Star

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