Severe Thunderstorms Hit Central Oregon; Heavy Hail Damage To Hemp Crops

While cleanup was under way in several parts of Central Oregon from two days of thunder, lightning, hail and flash flooding, a new group of storms rumbled through the region Saturday afternoon and evening, knocking out power to about 2,000 on Bend’s north end for several hours

Traffic lights were out, some businesses closed and the Albertsons grocery store at Third Street and Revere Avenue ran on generator power after a Pacific Power line was hit by lightning about 5 p.m. Officials said it could take until midnight to restore all power, but it was back on by 11:30 p.m.

Friday’s storms brought hail that damaged hemp and other crops.

Deschutes County Farm Bureau President Matt Cyrus said the hardest-hit farms were between Cline Falls and Tumalo, with an early estimate of 500 acres of hemp damaged or destroyed, causing $25 million in losses.