New Jersey, 1997

Lightning Strike in New Jersey, August 16, 1997

August 16, 1997 · NWS PHI · 1 event in 1 county or zone

Lightning helped ignite a fire in the second story of a two story building in Asbury Park. The lightning apparently struck the roof and the fire smouldered unnoticed for about an hour.

Where it happened

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$15,000
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.

Lightning helped ignite a fire in the second story of a two story building in Asbury Park. The lightning apparently struck the roof and the fire smouldered unnoticed for about an hour. The fire did cause moderate damage to the upstairs apartment as well as water damage throughout the building. No one was injured.

The radar

The Philadelphia radar (KDIX), 44 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:32 UTC.

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Event by event

1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Lightning, Monmouth

When
August 16, 8:30 PM EST
Where
Monmouth County, Asbury Park
Property damage
$15,000
Coordinates
40.288, -74.158 (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 New Jersey in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in New Jersey, 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: 5621642.