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ATTLEBORO - A rare January thunder and lightning storm swept through the area Friday, with periodic downpours and lighting strikes that damaged homes and felled trees.

By Friday night, about an inch of rain had fallen, according to the Attleboro Water Department.

In North Attleboro, lighting struck a 60-foot pine tree, splintering it and sending electricity underground into a house at 82 Delamont Ave.

"It sounded like a bomb. I jumped up," said David McGrath, 55, who was awakened by the blast at 8 a.m.

"The concussion blew out the cellar window and blew out the bolt from the cellar door. Blew it right off, and the cellar door opened up," McGrath said. The lightning damaged the electrical box and electrical system to the two-story home, built in 1915, and knocked out water service to the street, McGrath said.

It also blew a hole in a tile floor in the kitchen, knocking items off the walls. Branches from the split tree landed on McGrath's 2001 Ford Ranger pickup truck.

McGrath said the tree, which was about 5 feet in diameter, "exploded" when the lightning bolt hit.

"Pieces landed 75 to roughly a 100 yards away," he said.

Surveying the damage, McGrath said that although his home was without heat, he and his wife Michelle were able to light a fire in the fireplace to keep warm while an electrician began repairs.

Fire Chief Peter Lamb said the lightning also traveled underground to a house diagonally across the street at 25 Belamont Ave., causing some damage to its electrical system.

"The lightning traveled a pretty good path," Lamb said.

Belamont Avenue is off Old Post Road.

In Norton, lightning struck the roof of a home at 6 Goodwin Drive, causing a little structural damage and minor electrical damage inside, Fire Lt. Al Briand said Friday night.

"It got hit on the roof line," Briand said, adding there was no fire. The strike was reported about 9:20 a.m.

"We did have quite a bit of lightning. It was pouring," Briand said. "There were quite a few flashes, lots of rumbles. It came in waves. It didn't hit at just one time."

In Wrentham, a two-story house at 639 West St. sustained minor damage when it was struck by lightning around 10 a.m.

The lightning initially traveled through a tree, then struck the house, causing a small fire that was quickly extinguished.

Plainville and Norfolk firefighters assisted Wrentham firefighters.

The lightning strike was one of several in the town.

In Norfolk, a tree was knocked down over Main Street and power lines were knocked down on Pond Street, police said.

There was street flooding throughout the Attleboro area but damage from the storm was sporadic, with Attleboro and other communities reporting no serious problems through Friday night.

About a dozen homes lost power for a time on Ridge Road in the Grove section of Norton.

"We think it was from a branch that fell on high tension lines during the storm," Briand said. "It tripped a fuse on Reservoir Street."

That incident was reported about 11 a.m.

Heavy rain was believed to have been a factor in a three-vehicle accident on East Main Street (Route 123) about 12:50 p.m., Briand said. No injuries were reported but two vehicles were extensively damaged, he added.

Norton residents even observed some hail about mid-afternoon.

The mall in Lincoln, R.I. was closed Friday after it lost electricity following a lightning strike.

Friday tied a record high temperature for the date of 58 degrees set in 2000, the Attleboro Water Department said. Three of four previous days broke record highs, including two days in the mid-60s, during this January thaw.

Today is forecast to be partly sunny but breezy, with a high temp of 46 degrees. Tonight should have a low of 27, AccuWeather said.

Sunday is expected to have a high of 43, with mostly clouds, but Sunday night, with a low of 27 that should feel like 19 degrees, could see some snow lasting into Monday, when it likely will mix with rain, AccuWeather added.