Neighbors called firefighters around 9:30 p.m. to a home in the 700 block of East Schantz Avenue.
"We just heard a loud crash," said homeowner Mike Johnson. "The next thing you know, the fireman's knocking on the door telling us our pine tree's on fire that's right outside our house."
Johnson said his family was oblivious the lightning strike was that close, saying "it was almost right on the house."
He estimates the pine tree was about 100 years old.
The tall pine remained standing Friday night.
UPDATE @ 9:53 p.m.
Storms have moved into the area, interrupting some football games tonight.
"Unfortunately, we do have rain with a little bit of thunder and lightning heading north through the Dayton metro area," Storm Center 7 Chief Meteorologist Jamie Simpson said. "It will hang on for a little while longer before fizzling out by midnight. Thankfully, most if not all the games are over, and if some get delayed, they should be able to get them finished after waiting for a while."
Simpson says he still expects most of the day Saturday to be dry with the chance for showers and storms returning toward the end of the day.
UPDATE @ 5:14 p.m.
Conditions are expected to be nice for tonight's football games after higher humidity and clouds have held off so far, Storm Center 7 Chief Meteorologist Jamie Simpson said.
Kickoff temperatures will be at or just above 80 degrees, with temperatures at the end of the games in the mid to upper 70s, he said. Temperatures overnight will drop to the upper 60s with a few more clouds by morning, he said.
On Saturday, it should stay dry through 3 or 4 p.m., Simpson said.
"Then after that the threat for showers and thunderstorms starts to increase with them becoming likely in the evening," he said. "It will be more humid as sun fades behind more clouds in the afternoon."
Afternoon highs will be in the mid to upper 80s. More scattered showers and thunderstorms will continue at times tomorrow night.
Sunday: Morning lows will be near 70, and temperatures will only rise to about 80 with a good deal of clouds throughout the day as well as showers and thunderstorms at times off and on through the day.
"Sunday looks to be the wettest day of the holiday weekend overall," Simpson said.
Showers and thunderstorms will taper down after sunset.
Monday: It appears Monday will not be as wet as Sunday, but the daytime will not be as dry as Sunday.
"We will be in between systems to some degree, and that should translate to lulls in rainfall, and perhaps even several hours with dry weather at some point during the day," Simpson said.
Clouds will break for a little sun from time to time as temperatures climb from near 70 in the morning to the lower 80s in the afternoon.
Tuesday: More scattered showers are expected at times through the day. Although the timing of rainfall for early next week is a bit uncertain, none (except for Sunday) will be all day or even most of the day. Highs will be in the mid-80s.
Wednesday: There is still the chance for a few showers or thunderstorms with highs in the low 80s.
Of the five-day forecast, no days appear to have a great threat of severe weather, and rainfall totals should not exceed around 2 inches, so the flood threat doesn't appear all that great, either, Simpson said.
FIRST TAKE
Labor Day weekend is looking to be hot with the chance for some showers.
Today will be partly cloudy and warmer with highs in the mid to upper 80s, said Storm Center 7 Meteorologist Rich Wirdzek. Humidity levels will be low.
Tonight will be warm and dry with temperatures in the low 80s around kickoff for Friday night football games. Highs will be in the mid to upper 80s. An isolated shower is possibly late tonight with lows near 70. It will be warm and muggy, he said.
Saturday will be warm and more humid with a few showers or thunderstorms possible in the afternoon and evening. Highs will be in the mid to upper 80s.
More showers and thunderstorms are possible Sunday. Highs will be in the low 80's.
Some showers and storms are possible in the afternoon on Labor Day. Highs will be in the low to mid 80s.
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