North Carolina, 1997

Lightning Strikes in North Carolina, August 18 to 20, 1997

August 18 to 20, 1997 · NWS RAH · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

2 lightning, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 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
2
Property damage
$6,000
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 national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

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Event by event

2 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Lightning, Wayne

When
August 18, 3:00 PM EST
Where
Wayne County, Goldsboro
Property damage
$6,000
Coordinates
35.364, -78.004 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

LIGHTNING HIT THE SAINT MARY CONVENT AROUND 4 PM. THE CHIMNEY AND ROOF WERE DAMAGED. BRICKS FROM THE CHIMNEY FELL ON THREE CARS.

Lightning, Davidson

When
August 20, 3:00 PM EST
Where
Davidson County, Southmont
Injuries
2 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates
35.793, -80.213 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

TWO FIREFIGHTERS WERE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING WHILE RESPONDING TO A HOME ALARM SET OFF BY ANOTHER BOLT. BOTH MEN WERE TAKEN TO THE LEXINGTON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, TREATED, THEN RELEASED.

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 North Carolina in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, 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: 5614237, 5614236.