[turbocat]

Interesting - FOX now saying weather was good up north and maybe no lightning while CNN (have 2 TVs on) still confirming lightning!

[BohDaThone]

Here is the exact report on 1977.

http://blackout.gmu.edu/archive/pdf/ny_state_77.pdf

see pages 3-12 of pdf doc (not footer page numbers). It details the exact sequence from first lightning stroke, failure of grounding, to collapse.

I do NOT, repeat NOT, say that this IS what happened here, just that

(a) it is quite plausibele, and

(b) it will take a full technical workup like this report to know for sure.