Lightning Strike in Oklahoma, May 13, 1996

Name: Lightning Strike in Oklahoma, May 13, 1996
Start: 1996-05-13T07:25
End: 1996-05-13T07:25
Location: Oklahoma

May 13, 1996 · NWS OUN · 1 event in 1 county or zone

Lightning struck a car as it was driving down a city street, severely damaging the electrical system. Wires were melted, and the alternator, battery, and distributor were destroyed.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $200
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 OUN wrote it up.

Lightning struck a car as it was driving down a city street, severely damaging the electrical system. Wires were melted, and the alternator, battery, and distributor were destroyed. The owner of the car reported that it cost about $200 to repair.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

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Event by event

1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Lightning, Custer

When: May 13, 7:25 AM CST
Where: Custer County, Clinton
Property damage: $200
Coordinates: 35.639, -99.001 (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

Every storm in Oklahoma in 1996 Every state in 1996 This day in weather history Warnings in Oklahoma, 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: 5563073.