I've had two experiences with trees and lightning when I knew in no uncertain terms just when the lightning hit. Once over fifty years ago: my father and I were just on the porch of the farm house, on a hot clear summer day, a step from going in the door; lightning hit a big old cottonwood about a hundred yards behind us. With us right against the front of the house, the whole world was one big CRACK. Again, thirty years ago, in a shoe store in Winnetka, Illinois: the strike hit a big hollow tree in a small park just across the street. The hollow was full of rain water, and the steam explosion blew the tree all over the park like a load of dynamite. I would bet it was just that little bit short of blowing out the big front display window of the store.