Florida, 1997

Damaging Wind and Lightning Strike in Florida, August 23, 1997

August 23, 1997 · NWS MLB · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

1 lightning, 1 thunderstorm wind, as filed by the National Weather Service.

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.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
1
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
2

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.

The radar

The Melbourne radar (KMLB), 117 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:31 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 lightning, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Lightning, Martin

When
August 23, 9:00 AM EST
Where
Martin County, Stuart
Injuries
1 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates
27.082, -80.398 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lightning struck a boater near Stuart in the Indian River Lagoon. He was knocked unconscious and fell into the water. He was pulled back on the boat and revived by his wife.

Thunderstorm Wind, Volusia

When
August 23, 3:30 PM EST
Where
Volusia County, 5 mi NE of De Land
Coordinates
29.080, -81.230

Thunderstorm winds blew down trees and damaged a house near DeLand. A recreational vehicle was pushed into a pole.

What these are

Lightning
A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.
Thunderstorm Wind
Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Florida in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Florida, August 1997

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: 5617445, 5617446.