Watch: Dashcam Captures Lightning Strike Close to Traffic on Atlanta Highway
Atlanta, GA – April 5, 2025
A heart-stopping moment unfolded on an Atlanta highway this week when a dashcam captured a lightning bolt striking mere feet from moving traffic, sending shockwaves through social media and local news outlets. The dramatic footage, recorded during a severe storm that swept through Georgia on Friday, April 4, shows a driver’s narrow escape from disaster, highlighting the raw power of nature amid a turbulent weather week in the Southeast.
The video, first shared on TikTok by user @lexi_diesels and later amplified by CNN, depicts a stormy scene along Interstate 20. As lightning illuminates the sky, a bolt suddenly crashes into the asphalt on the highway’s shoulder, just yards from the right lane where vehicles are traveling. The driver filming the incident swerves instinctively, avoiding the strike by a split second as sparks fly and the road briefly glows from the impact. “I thought I was done for,” the unnamed driver told WSB-TV in a follow-up interview, still shaken by the close call.
Meteorologists say the incident occurred during a powerful storm system that battered the region with heavy rain, high winds, and frequent lightning. The National Weather Service reported over 200 lightning strikes across metro Atlanta that evening, part of a broader weather event that brought tornado warnings and flash flooding to the South and Midwest. “This was a classic case of a positively charged bolt—rare and incredibly intense,” said Dr. Karen Miles of Georgia Tech’s Severe Weather Lab. “It’s a miracle no one was hit.”
The viral clip has racked up millions of views, with posts on X buzzing about the “insane” footage. “That’s the closest I’ve ever seen lightning come to a car—pure luck,” one user wrote, while another quipped, “Mother Nature said, ‘Not today!’” The incident has also reignited discussions about driving safety in storms, with experts urging motorists to pull over during severe weather when possible. “You’re relatively safe in a car, but this shows how unpredictable lightning can be,” Miles added.
For Atlanta residents, the strike is a stark reminder of the city’s vulnerability to spring storms. No injuries were reported, but the event has left its mark—both on the scorched pavement and in the minds of those who witnessed it, whether live or through the now-iconic dashcam lens.
By Staff Writer, Atlanta Weather Watch