AVERY COUNTY, N.C. — Several people were injured while hiking on Grandfather Mountain Friday.
The group was hiking up Macrae Peak when a strong thunderstorm moved through the area, according to a National Weather Service report.
Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation said all seven people felt the nearby lightning strike. Four people suffered injuries. According to a press release from Grandfather Mountain, all hikers were able to get off the mountain on foot. One hiker was transported to a nearby hospital via ambulance. Other injuries were more minor.
According to WFMY Chief Meteorologist Tim Buckley, these storms popped up quickly, "Radar shows rain first popping up in the area around 11:30. It wasn't until right at 12:00 that the first lightning strike appeared. These hikers didn't have much time to adjust.
We'll continue to update this story with more details.