[charmerci]

Recently, we had a thunderstorm. There was a lightning strike somewhere and the power in the neighborhood cut off just for a number of seconds.

So what happens?

How come the power was off for only a few seconds?

[North Star]

I don't get it!

[charmerci]

This is what I imagine.

Lightning strikes a telephone pole which sends a surge to a local relay station which shuts down to protect the rest of the grid and then after a few seconds automatically resets the system and sends electricity back into the system.

[North Star]

Now I do get it.

[BobRex]

This is what I imagine.

Lightning strikes a telephone pole which sends a surge to a local relay station which shuts down to protect the rest of the grid and then after a few seconds automatically resets the system and sends electricity back into the system.

That's one possibility, and the most likely, but it's also possible that the substation took a hit and the lines were re-routed.  That typically takes more than a few seconds to accomplish, but I've seen it done.  (Used to work for a utility)

[westom]

  Disconnect is performed by a reclosure.  A box, typically on the pole, that disconnects local distribution.  And that can change where your power comes from.

  Lightning created a temporary short circuit.  A short circuit remains unless power is removed.  So the reclosure disconnects AC mains.  Let's a lightning created short circuit dissipate.  Then connects power again.  This may happen up to three times.  After that, the reclosure decides that short is hard.  And remains disconnected.