Storms
S


Cloud Lightning

Lightning claims 5 young lives in a week

Randolph E. Schmid
Associated Press
Fri, 11 Jul 2008 01:55 UTC
Five young lives have been ended by lightning in less than a week, a deadly reminder of one of summer's leading hazards.

"Typically, July marks the peak in lightning activity. It's also the time when people are vacationing, so they are outside and they are vulnerable to lightning," said John Jensenius, a lightning safety expert at the National Weather Service.

But why so many young people in a few days? "I don't have an answer for that," Jensenius said, "It's all very sad."
Read More...
Phoenix

Massachusetts, US: Storms, Lightning Trigger House Fire


The Boston Channel
Tue, 17 Jun 2008 05:46 UTC
Crews rushed to a home on School Street in Belmont Monday night after it was struck by lightning. The strike sparked a fire on the roof. Fire crews quickly put the flames out and no one was hurt.

Cool and unsettled weather will continue through the rest of this work week. Temperatures will slowly moderate by this weekend but there will be a continued threat for showers and thunderstorms into early next week.
Read More...
Phoenix

US: Lightning hits house in Virginia Beach, causing fire


WVEC.com
Tue, 17 Jun 2008 05:42 UTC
Lightning hit a house and sparked a fire that badly damaged the home on Chesopeian Trail early Tuesday. The fire raced through the attic and tore apart most of the roof.

The owners of the house are away, but a friend who was house sitting was inside when the lightning hit.

Neighbors told 13 News they heard the lightning hit, but didn't realize it had caused a fire until the woman staying at the house started knocking on doors yelling for help. Though she wasn't hurt, the woman was shaken up.
Read More...
Cloud Lightning

US: Three struck by lightning in Rocky Mountain National Park


Sky Hi Daily News
Tue, 08 Jul 2008 18:25 UTC
Shortly after noon today, dispatch received a cell phone call reporting three people had been struck by lightning near Mills Lake in the Glacier Gorge area of Rocky Mountain National Park.

Mills Lake is approximately 2.8 miles from the Glacier Gorge Trailhead. Park rangers responded and contacted three people who were reportedly struck by lighting. Initial reports indicate three males and one female were struck. After investigating, park officials confirmed there was not a fourth victim, according to e-mails from Kyle Patterson, Public Information Officer for Rocky Mountain National Park.

Two males and one female were walking down the trail when they were contacted.

Eight people were standing near Mills Lake when the lightning strike occurred, Patterson wrote.

Three out of this group were apparently struck by lightning. The Park Service hopes to have ages and hometowns confirmed later today.
Read More...
Extinguisher

US: Lightning starts fires near Okanogan, Washington

Dee Camp
The Chronicle
Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:59 UTC


Okanogan fire 1
©Chronicle photo by Dee Camp
Fire erupts near Okanogan after lightning storm passes through at 7 p.m.


A brief, fierce lightning storm touched off a fast-moving fire that is threatening structures, the Okanogan County Sheriff's Office's communications system and crops in the Cameron Lake Road area near Okanogan.

The fire began around 7 p.m. July 1 as a lightning storm moved through the valley. It brought scattered rain showers to the mid-valley area and hail to the south end of the county.
Read More...
Phoenix

US: Lightning May Have Triggered Fire At St. Patrick's Church in Tampa, Florida

Neil Johnson
The Tampa Tribune
Mon, 16 Jun 2008 05:07 UTC
A fire in the social hall attic of St. Patrick's Catholic Church forced the congregation outside just before 9 a.m. Mass on Sunday. A lightning strike on the roof overnight may have ignited a small fire, which smoldered until church member Paul Mumford saw flames about 8:45 a.m.

"I smelled smoke. When I first started looking I couldn't see it. Later I could see flames," Mumford said.

Those attending the Mass were moved outside and an abbreviated service was said as about 50 members stood or sat in folding chairs.
Read More...
Cloud Lightning

US: Lightning Strike At Hammonassett Beach Kills 1, Injures 4


Courant.com
Sun, 15 Jun 2008 04:57 UTC
Connecticut, US - The pavilion must have seemed safe to Mauricio Bugatti when a thunderstorm suddenly raced over Hammonasset beach last weekend. But he stood too close to a wooden pillar, and that's most likely what killed him.

Bugatti, 23, of West Haven, died when lightning struck the pavilion Sunday at West Beach in Hammonasset Beach State Park. Four others who stood near the same pillar - including a 12-year-old - were injured. Those seeking shelter from the storm probably did not realize it, but the pavilion was one of the worst places to be, according to Richard Kithil, founder and chief executive officer of the nonprofit Lightning Safety Institute in Denver. When a lightning bolt hits, it jumps from one object to the next on its way to the ground, and it is drawn to human bodies because of their high saltwater content, experts said.
Read More...
Cloud Lightning

Severe Weather socks West Michigan

Bob Brenzing
WZZM 13 News
Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:35 UTC
Severe thunderstorms are winding down across West Michigan, leaving a trail of downed trees and power lines in their wake.

Most severe weather reports are of hail and heavy rains.

There are reports of some trees down and lightning strikes of homes and power lines.
Read More...
Phoenix

US: Lightning sparks fires in Northern Nevada

Ray Hagar
RJG.com
Mon, 30 Jun 2008 23:23 UTC
Dry, hot conditions and lightning strikes sparked at least seven fires in the Reno-Sparks area Sunday, while smoke from fires in California continued to blow into the Reno area.
Read More...
Cloud Lightning

Colorado, US: Most wildfires blamed on lightning

Howard Pankratz and Kieran Nicholson
The Denver Post
Sat, 28 Jun 2008 11:50 UTC
More than a dozen wildfires have been sparked in Colorado in the past week, most by "dry lightning," and the biggest has burned more than 1,100 acres in Park County.

The Nash Ranch fire, which started Thursday afternoon east of Guffey, forced the evacuation of about 150 homes, said Linda Balough, a Park County spokeswoman.

Two structures - a shed and camper trailer - have been lost to the blaze, Balough said.

About 125 fire fighters, including a Rocky Mountain Area Type II Incident Management Team, swarmed into the Guffey area to battle the blaze, she said.

Dry conditions, swirling winds and high temperatures have combined to make this year an active fire season.



Image
©The Colorado Springs Gazette | KEVIN KRECK
A single engine air tanker drops retardent on the fire burning near Guffy, Colo., Friday, June 27, 2008.

Read More...