Caught On Video: Lightning Strikes Empire State Building

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A stunning video shows a lightning bolt striking the Empire State Building during a storm passing through New York City.

A frame of the viral video shared by independent journalist Henrik Moltke shows the bolt striking near the top of the skyscraper Monday.

Moltke says he saw the storm approaching from his office window and captured the strike by balancing his phone against the glass. He says he "was just lucky."

The video has received more than 140,000 views since it was posted July 25.

More: Current Weather Conditions | Heat Safety Guide | Public Pools

Lightning strikes on the Empire State Building aren't unusual. The building's website says the structure serves as a lightning rod for the surrounding area and is hit by lightning 23 times a year on average.

Staggering temperatures and powerful summer thunderstorms have slammed the Tri-State area through the last week, bringing on damage, downed trees, flooding, power outages and uncomfortable conditionsfor residents.

A heat advisory is still in effect in the New York City area until 6 p.m. Tuesday.

High temperatures are expected to climb into the high 80s and low 90s across much of the state through Thursday before more moderate weather arrives Friday.

(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

Read more
f

We and our partners use cookies to understand how you use our site, improve your experience and serve you personalized content and advertising. Read about how we use cookies in our cookie policy and how you can control them by clicking Manage Settings. By continuing to use this site, you accept these cookies.