Pennsylvania, 1996

Lightning Strike in Pennsylvania, June 8, 1996

June 8, 1996 · NWS PBZ · 1 event in 1 county or zone

Six people were injured, none seriously, after lightning struck close by during the Westmoreland County Air Show. Four of the injured were sent to an area hospital and were treated and released.

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
6
Property damage
None recorded
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 PBZ wrote it up.

Six people were injured, none seriously, after lightning struck close by during the Westmoreland County Air Show. Four of the injured were sent to an area hospital and were treated and released. All four complained of numbness in their arms and legs.

The radar

The Pittsburgh radar (KPBZ), 68 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:32 UTC.

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Event by event

1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Lightning, Westmoreland

When
June 8, 2:30 PM EST
Where
Westmoreland County, Latrobe Arpt
Injuries
6 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates
40.311, -79.467 (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 Pennsylvania in 1996Every state in 1996This day in weather historyWarnings in Pennsylvania, 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: 5562963.