Pennsylvania, 1999

Lightning Strike in Pennsylvania, August 14, 1999

August 14, 1999 · NWS PHI · 1 event in 1 county or zone

A large cluster of thunderstorms moved through Southeast Pennsylvania during the early morning of the 14th and was a prolific lightning producer. Around 5,000 cloud-to-ground strikes of lightning were reported.

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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  • Floods
  • Wind
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  • Cold
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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 PHI wrote it up.

A large cluster of thunderstorms moved through Southeast Pennsylvania during the early morning of the 14th and was a prolific lightning producer. Around 5,000 cloud-to-ground strikes of lightning were reported. The worst lightning strike and damage occurred in Bensalem Township when an unoccupied trailer was severely damaged by a lightning strike and its ensuing fire. One firefighter was treated for minor burns. PECO Energy reported about 64,000 homes and businesses lost power in their service area between Midnight and 4 a.m. EDT. Most of the outages (50,000) were in Bucks County.

The radar

The Philadelphia radar (KDIX), 73 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 05:51 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Lightning, Bucks

When
August 14, 12:50 AM EST
Where
Bucks County, 2 mi W of Hulmeville
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
40.337, -75.107 (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 Pennsylvania in 1999Every state in 1999This day in weather historyWarnings in Pennsylvania, August 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: 5717854.