California, 2000

Lightning Strikes in California, September 7, 2000

September 7, 2000 · NWS SGX · 2 events in 1 county or zone

Lightning struck the ground next to a basketball hoop at the Oceanside High School as about 200 students were assembling outside for their sixth period physical education class. Two students closest to where the bolt hit were knocked down and briefly lost consciousness.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
3
Property damage
$25,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
2

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 SGX wrote it up.

Lightning struck the ground next to a basketball hoop at the Oceanside High School as about 200 students were assembling outside for their sixth period physical education class. Two students closest to where the bolt hit were knocked down and briefly lost consciousness. They later reported sensations that felt like being hit with a rock, needles going through their skin, and their hair being pulled. Another 100 students standing nearby reported feeling a mild jolt and the hair on their arms and heads standing on end. Lightning occurred throughout San Diego County the entire day, striking several homes and power poles, as well as starting brush and tree fires. Most of the blazes were quickly extinguished by the rainfall.

The radar

The San Diego radar (KNKX), 28 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 14:07 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Lightning, San Diego

When
September 7, 6:07 AM PST to 4:50 PM PST
Where
San Diego County, Chula Vista
Property damage
$25,000
Reported by
BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates
33.028, -116.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lightning, San Diego

When
September 7, 12:40 PM PST
Where
San Diego County, Oceanside
Injuries
3 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
33.028, -116.770 (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 California in 2000Every state in 2000This day in weather historyWarnings in California, September 2000

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: 5156465, 5156464.