Michigan, 1998

Lightning Strike in Michigan, June 16, 1998

June 16, 1998 · NWS GRR · 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
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.

The radar

The Grand Rapids radar (KGRR), 15 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:30 UTC.

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Event by event

1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Lightning, Kent

When
June 16, 5:30 PM EST
Where
Kent County, Alto
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
43.032, -85.549 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A fire sparked by a lightning strike destroyed the new education building of the Whitneyville Bible Church at 8546 Whitneyville Ave SE in Alto, located in southeast Kent County. Lightning struck the southwest corner of the building around 6:30 pm EDT, according to the church's senior pastor. The fire destroyed the 80-foot by 120-foot brick building and charred classrooms, musical instruments, furniture, books, and computers. An estimate of the damage was not available.

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 Michigan in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in Michigan, June 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: 5658620.