SALEM, Ore. -- More than 24,000 lightning strikes were recorded across Oregon during this week's powerful storms. A series of damaging thunderstorms pounded the state Thursday afternoon, downing trees and knocking out power. At the peak of the storms, more than 50,000 PGE customers were without power.

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Marion County was hardest-hit. Lightning struck a Salem home, causing a two-alarm fire that left neighbors looking on in amazement as the home burned while sheets of rain fell and wind blew trees sideways.

"The house just started smoldering really fast -- you could see some flames but it was mostly just black and brown smoke," Frannie Yerbrough said.

Daniel Wianko

Lightning struck across NW Oregon during a violent June storm.

Streets and parks across Salem were turned into lakes and standing water closed many main streets. The Department of Human Services administration building had to be evacuated after severe structural damage.

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A tornado warning was also briefly issued briefly for parts of Marion County.

KGW Chief Meteorologist Matt Zaffino said the storms were part of a line of cells that moved across the state, at times causing circling patterns, which can lead to tornadoes.

Portland Fire and Rescue officials responded to several fires believed to be caused by lightning. More than 250 lightning strikes were reported in the Portland area.

The storm also ended up kicking up dust and pollen that overwhelmed some emergency rooms with allergy sufferers. More: Dust storm

Trees were knocked down in a number of cities and towns in the Willamette Valley. Salem was hit especially hard, with parking lots flooded and a number of trees downed. ODOT also reported trees down on Hwy 213 near Silverton. The right lane of I-5 NB was blocked for a time by a downed tree at MP 268 was between Woodburn and Salem.

East of Salem, Highway 22 was delayed at Mill City due to multiple trees down along the highway. In Stayton, the Fire Department reported isolated trees and power lines down. More: Traffic

In a rare move, the Rose Festival announced the closure of the Waterfront Village for the remainder of Thurwsday evening.

Some schools also closed due to the storms. Portland Community College's Capital Center was closed and classes were cancelled for the evening of June 4 due to a power outage (all other PCC campuses and centers remained open.) Marylhurst University also closed Thursday evening due to the storm. More: School closures

Zaffino said the storms came off the Cascades foothills and developed very rapidly.

Zaffino said the storms developed at nearly 30,000 feet -- making an intense combination of wind, hail, rain and lightning.

An intense line of radar activity could be seen from the Oregon Coast, through Albany and across the Cascade Range during the late afternoon.

The thunderstorms died down around dusk on Thursday the evening.

MORE: Thunderstorm Safety Tips

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A 14-year-old La Pine boy was in fair condition in a Portland hospital Thursday after he was struck by lightning on Wednesday outside a high school gymnasium in LaPine in Central Oregon. More than 5,000 lightning strikes were recorded across the state on Wednesday. Details: Teen hit by lightning

KGW Reporter Mike Benner contributed to this report.