That was Brad's house in Southborough, and that was way too close. If we look at the video, you can see it's not raining *** whole lot, and if you looked at radar, you'd say, well, the worst of the rain is still about 6 miles to my north and west, but notice the lightning strike here, striking 6 miles away from what you're looking at on radar here. That's really important because we tell you. For *** reason, when thunder roars, go indoors, lightning can actually strike up to 10 miles away from where the heaviest rain might be or where the thunderstorm is. Brad told us right before that lightning strike, the hair on the back of his neck actually stood up, and that's *** common report we hear from people that are close to being struck by lightning. In this case, we're happy that it turned out OK for Brad. Brad, we're, we're thankful that you shared the video and that you're OK most of all. And let this be *** reminder to everybody that it doesn't need to be raining heavily for lightning to strike nearby. Lightning is always dangerous, and that's why we tell you, when thunder roars, go indoors.
Video shows close call with lightning for Massachusetts father, daughter
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Updated: 5:10 PM EDT May 20, 2026
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Lightning struck near a Southborough, Massachusetts, father and daughter during storms that rolled through on Tuesday, leaving burn marks and a scary reminder to head indoors when thunderstorms are nearby.Brad Robillard said he was helping his daughter out of the family's pickup truck outside their home when the strike occurred. His home surveillance camera captured the flash and flying sparks that followed."I believe it struck the gutter, traveled down, and then connected with my fence next to me. The hair on my neck stood up a few seconds before," he told Boston sister station WCVB."That's a common report. We hear from people that are close to being struck by lightning," said WCVB's StormTeam 5 Meteorologist A.J. Burnett.The strike left burn marks on the gutter. Burnett watched the video and pointed out that it was only lightly raining at the time of the strike. In fact, he said the lightning strike was recorded roughly six miles from the area of heaviest rain at that time. "That's really important because we tell you for a reason, 'When thunder roars, go indoors.' Lightning can actually strike up to 10 miles away from where the heaviest rain might be or where the thunderstorm is," Burnett said. See more in the player at the top.
Lightning struck near a Southborough, Massachusetts, father and daughter during storms that rolled through on Tuesday, leaving burn marks and a scary reminder to head indoors when thunderstorms are nearby.
Brad Robillard said he was helping his daughter out of the family's pickup truck outside their home when the strike occurred. His home surveillance camera captured the flash and flying sparks that followed.
"I believe it struck the gutter, traveled down, and then connected with my fence next to me. The hair on my neck stood up a few seconds before," he told Boston sister station WCVB.
"That's a common report. We hear from people that are close to being struck by lightning," said WCVB's StormTeam 5 Meteorologist A.J. Burnett.
The strike left burn marks on the gutter.
Burnett watched the video and pointed out that it was only lightly raining at the time of the strike. In fact, he said the lightning strike was recorded roughly six miles from the area of heaviest rain at that time.
"That's really important because we tell you for a reason, 'When thunder roars, go indoors.' Lightning can actually strike up to 10 miles away from where the heaviest rain might be or where the thunderstorm is," Burnett said.
See more in the player at the top.
