New Hampshire, 1998

Lightning Strike in New Hampshire, September 27, 1998

September 27, 1998 · NWS GYX · 1 event in 1 county or zone

The oldest home in the town of Hampstead caught fire after being struck by lightning. The lightning blew two holes in the chimney and ignited a fire that destroyed the attic.

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.

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  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
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  • Winter weather
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  • Cold
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  • Marine and coastal
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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 GYX wrote it up.

The oldest home in the town of Hampstead caught fire after being struck by lightning. The lightning blew two holes in the chimney and ignited a fire that destroyed the attic. The rest of the structure along with it's contents were damaged by water.

The radar

The Boston radar (KBOX), 115 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 07:30 UTC.

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Event by event

1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Lightning, Rockingham

When
September 27, 2:30 AM EST
Where
Rockingham County, Hampstead
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
42.985, -71.089 (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 Hampshire in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in New Hampshire, September 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: 5676188.