Lightning Strike in Florida, August 9, 1998

Name: Lightning Strike in Florida, August 9, 1998
Start: 1998-08-09T13:40
End: 1998-08-09T13:40
Location: Florida

August 9, 1998 · NWS MOB · 1 event in 1 county or zone

1 lightning, 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: 3
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.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

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Event by event

1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Lightning, Santa Rosa

When: August 9, 1:40 PM CST
Where: Santa Rosa County, Harold
Injuries: 3 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 30.693, -87.018 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several people were riding 4-wheelers near the Blackwater River State Park when a storm suddenly moved in. Lightning struck a pine tree near the people and they decided to get under that tree, thinking if it got hit once, lightning wouldn't strike it again. Lightning did strike the tree again and three people were injured and taken to a local hospital. One of the males had burns on one of his feet and two others had hair singed on their arms and legs. All three were treated and 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

Every storm in Florida in 1998 Every state in 1998 This day in weather history Warnings in Florida, August 1998

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: 5666440.