An amazing piece of security camera footage from a high school in Wisconsin shows a lightning strike shattering a sizeable tree in seconds. According to a local media report, the jaw-dropping event occurred during a storm on Thursday morning in the city of Wautoma. As students were preparing to take a test, they were shaken from their studies by a monstrous thunder clap seemingly coming from right outside the school. The discovery of a downed tree near the building and a subsequent check of the security camera footage led them to find the stunning scene that had been captured on film.

In the video, a monstrous lightning bolt can be seen striking the top of the tree, causing it to briefly illuminated by fire. Seconds later, the entire tree crumbles to the ground in an instant, leaving behind only a pile of destroyed timber and broken branches. Reflecting on the remarkable moment wherein their school day took a dramatic turn, Wautoma high school principal Jennifer Johnson said, “initially, the students and staff were startled by the event; however, after realizing what had just happened, they were fascinated by the rare incident that occurred just feet from them.”