Intense Minnesota storm's arsenal includes lightning that ignites a shed in Isanti County

Fire and ice worked together Thursday to create an unusual emergency in Isanti County.

On its second day, a fierce snowstorm sweeping the state continued to throw everything it had at long-suffering Minnesotans, including thunder and lightning.

At 4:30 p.m. Thursday, sheriff's deputies and firefighters in the county north of the Twin Cities metro area were called to the scene of a lightning strike that had ignited a shed and a large tree, the Sheriff's Office said on its Facebook page.

"So only in Minnesota," it said. "It is a blizzard out there and then out of nowhere a lightning strike, which in turn starts a shed on fire. Yes, it really happened today."

No one was hurt, and the fire was quickly extinguished.

Not so quickly could the storm be banished. Friday and Friday night are expected to bring more snow, ice and freezing rain to the area.

It's possible, then, that lightning could strike twice during the same storm. Stay tuned.

STAFF REPORT