Iowa, 1996

Lightning Strike in Iowa, May 26, 1996

May 26, 1996 · NWS DMX · 1 event in 1 county or zone

As thunderstorms moved across the Centerville area, lightning struck a house in town. Minor damage was reported as the lightning blew a hole in a water pipe.

Where it happened

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$2,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
1

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS DMX wrote it up.

As thunderstorms moved across the Centerville area, lightning struck a house in town. Minor damage was reported as the lightning blew a hole in a water pipe.

The radar

The Des Moines radar (KDMX), 131 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 05:22 UTC.

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Event by event

1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Lightning, Appanoose

When
May 26, 11:23 PM CST
Where
Appanoose County, Centerville
Property damage
$2,000
Coordinates
40.743, -92.869 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Lightning
A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Iowa in 1996Every state in 1996This day in weather historyWarnings in Iowa, May 1996

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5545088.