Alabama, 1999

Lightning Strike in Alabama, May 5, 1999

May 5, 1999 · NWS BMX · 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
$30,000
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.

The radar

The Northeast Alabama radar (KHTX), 46 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 03:44 UTC.

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Event by event

1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Lightning, Madison

When
May 5, 9:45 PM CST
Where
Madison County, Huntsville
Property damage
$30,000
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
34.763, -86.550 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lightning strikes caused several house fires around the city. A few homes had only minor smoke damage but a few others sustained substantial fire and water damage. One firefighter received minor injuries when falling debris landed on him inside one of the homes.

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 Alabama in 1999Every state in 1999This day in weather historyWarnings in Alabama, May 1999

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: 5695402.