Wild weather hits Washington, Plains

WASHINGTON, June 10 (UPI) -- Washington was recovering Wednesday after severe thunderstorms pelted the U.S. capital, cutting power to 90,000 homes and businesses, officials said.

Heavy rain, hail and strong wind gusts rocked the city Tuesday downing trees, including a 69-year-old European linden tree on the North Lawn of the White House, The Washington Post reported.

The newspaper said house fires sparked by the storm were reported in the District of Columbia and in Potomac and Annandale, Md., where a witness said a tree erupted in flames as lightning strikes came perilously close to hitting houses.

The central Great Plains also were hit by severe weather Tuesday. Damaging winds and blinding rains raked Missouri and Kansas, while several tornadoes touched down but produced no reported damage, Accuweather.com said.

Thunderstorm winds destroyed a home near Fairview, Mo., while another gusty storm in Cimarron, Kan., damaged a mobile home and downed power lines.