Maryland, 1996

Lightning Strike in Maryland, June 11, 1996

June 11, 1996 · NWS PHI · 1 event in 1 county or zone

A lightning strike caused $10,000 damage to a house in Singerly. The lightning apparently hit a poplar tree about 20 feet from the house, traveled along the roots underground, "punched" a hole in the wall and melted the phones and electrical system within the house.

Where it happened

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$10,000
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 PHI wrote it up.

A lightning strike caused $10,000 damage to a house in Singerly. The lightning apparently hit a poplar tree about 20 feet from the house, traveled along the roots underground, "punched" a hole in the wall and melted the phones and electrical system within the house. No one was injured.

The radar

The Dover AFB radar (KDOX), 93 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:59 UTC.

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Event by event

1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Lightning, Cecil

When
June 11, 1:00 PM EST
Where
Cecil County, Singerly
Property damage
$10,000
Coordinates
39.562, -75.948 (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 Maryland in 1996Every state in 1996This day in weather historyWarnings in Maryland, June 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: 5567075.