Wisconsin, 1996

Lightning Strike in Wisconsin, June 1, 1996

June 1, 1996 · NWS GRB · 1 event in 1 county or zone

A bolt of lightning struck a line of trees bordering the outfield of a baseball diamond at Memorial Park in Keshena (Menominee county). Several spectators seated behind the centerfield fence were thrown from their lawn chairs and from the hoods of their cars or trucks.

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
8
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 GRB wrote it up.

A bolt of lightning struck a line of trees bordering the outfield of a baseball diamond at Memorial Park in Keshena (Menominee county). Several spectators seated behind the centerfield fence were thrown from their lawn chairs and from the hoods of their cars or trucks. Eight people were injured, but only one needed to be transported to a hospital.

The radar

The Green Bay radar (KGRB), 73 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:42 UTC.

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Event by event

1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Lightning, Menominee (C)

When
June 1, 2:45 PM CST
Where
Menominee (C) County, Keshena
Injuries
8 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates
45.004, -88.710 (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 Wisconsin in 1996Every state in 1996This day in weather historyWarnings in Wisconsin, 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: 5552854.