New Jersey, 1998

Lightning Strike in New Jersey, June 1, 1998

June 1, 1998 · NWS OKX · 1 event in 1 county or zone

Lightning caused a circuit overload which sparked a fire in the basement at 8 Lombardi Place in Maplewood. The fire quickly spread to the front of the house and caused significant damage.

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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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$90,000
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 OKX wrote it up.

As thunderstorms moved over the area, they produced frequent lightning, wind gusts up to 40 mph, and brief downpours.Lightning caused a circuit overload which sparked a fire in the basement at 8 Lombardi Place in Maplewood. The fire quickly spread to the front of the house and caused significant damage. A Maplewood patrolman rescued six people from the house.

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, Essex

When
June 1, 12:00 AM EST
Where
Essex County, Maplewood
Property damage
$90,000
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
40.787, -74.247 (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 Jersey in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in New Jersey, 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: 5658634.