Pennsylvania, 1997

Lightning Strike in Pennsylvania, May 6, 1997

May 6, 1997 · NWS PHI · 1 event in 1 county or zone

Lightning struck three Patriot's Ridge townhouses in Plumstead Township. The lightning blew off a section of a roof and burned holes in the rain gutters.

Where it happened

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
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 PHI wrote it up.

Lightning struck three Patriot's Ridge townhouses in Plumstead Township. The lightning blew off a section of a roof and burned holes in the rain gutters. The lightning apparently hit the peak of the frame homes and travel along their gutters.

The radar

The Philadelphia radar (KDIX), 73 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 16:46 UTC.

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Event by event

1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Lightning, Bucks

When
May 6, 11:45 AM EST
Where
Bucks County, Plumsteadville
Coordinates
40.337, -75.107 (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 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Pennsylvania, May 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: 5608957.