Flash Flooding and Lightning Strikes in New York, June 12 to 13, 1998

Preceded by a steady light to occasionally moderate rainfall, a line of thunderstorms developed and moved east over the area. Thunderstorms produced torrential flash flooding rains and frequent lightning.Torrential rains resulted in widespread serious flooding of streets, poor drainage and low-lying areas, home basements, and small streams. Lightning struck many homes and ignited fires that damaged them.In Suffolk County, rivers of moving water formed rapidly on streets. In Lindenhurst, waves were actually visible on Sunrise Highway. Up to 3 feet of water also inundated streets in Babylon on Sunrise Highway. In Mastic, water rapidly flowed from Montauk highway into a residential area and flooded basements and first floors of houses. In Westchester County, small streams overflowed their banks and caused serious street flooding from Scarsdale to Mamaroneck.In Nassau County, lightning:o Hit a drain pipe, igniting the vinyl siding behind the pipe at 961 Crestview Ave. in North Woodmere. Another house was struck by lightning on Hook Street in North Woodmere.o Struck an air conditioning unit in the roof above the front door of the extended wood home at 1725 Huntley Place in Hewlett. The resulting flames spread throughout the home and seriously damaged all 7 rooms.o Struck the slate roof of a residence at 98 Oxford Road in Lawrence. Lightning caused a major fire in the attic, which devastated most of the home.o Struck two houses in Long Beach. One stroke knocked off a chunk of stucco and another hit the peak of the roof. o Hit several houses and caused significant damage in the Point-Lookout-Lido area. At one house, the chimney was hit and it just exploded.o Hit a house in Great Neck.In Suffolk County, lightning struck the television antenna and travelled to the attic where it ignited a fire at Zophar Mills Road in Wading River.