Published 10:30 am Friday, May 29, 2026 Severe thunderstorms that lashed much of Central Oregon on Thursday produced record rainfall, hundreds of lightning strikes and strong wind gusts, rattling nerves for commuters during the evening rush hour. The heaviest rain fell between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m., coinciding with peak traffic, although no major crashes were reported. In Redmond, 0.66 inches of rain fell on May 28, breaking the previous daily rainfall record of 0.26 inches set in 1985, according to the National Weather Service. The Redmond Airport recorded 0.70 inches of precipitation during the 24-hour period ending at 8 a.m. Friday. Other rainfall totals included 0.63 inches at Lava Butte south of Bend, 0.46 inches at Bend Airport, 0.65 inches in Madras and 0.49 inches in Maupin, according to the weather service. The storms also generated significant lightning activity across the region. Deschutes County recorded 462 lightning strikes, while Crook County saw 377 strikes and Jefferson County recorded 357.…