Maryland, 2000

Lightning Strike and Heavy Rain in Maryland, July 3 to 4, 2000

July 3 to 4, 2000 · NWS LWX · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

During the afternoon and evening of the 3rd, thunderstorms which produced heavy rainfall and frequent lightning moved across central Maryland. In Calvert County, a 37 year old man was killed by lightning on Solomon's Island.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 3 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
1
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
3

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 LWX wrote it up.

During the afternoon and evening of the 3rd, thunderstorms which produced heavy rainfall and frequent lightning moved across central Maryland. In Calvert County, a 37 year old man was killed by lightning on Solomon's Island. The victim was fixing a hole on the roof of a camper when he was struck. In St. Mary's County, a total of 1.90 inches of rain fell in Tall Timbers. Rainfall totals in Prince George's County included 2.64 inches in Leeland, 2.39 inches in Upper Marlboro, 2.24 inches in Landover and on Harry Truman Drive, 2.04 inches in Forestville, and 1.61 inches in South Bowie.

The radar

The Sterling radar (KLWX), 58 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:59 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 heavy rain, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Rain, Prince George'S

When
July 3, 6:00 PM EST to 11:00 PM EST
Where
Prince George'S County, Central Portion
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
38.830, -76.847 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lightning, Calvert

When
July 3, 10:00 PM EST
Where
Calvert County, Solomons
Deaths
1 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
38.535, -76.531 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A 37 year old man was killed by lightning while he was fixing a leak on the roof of a camper.

Heavy Rain, St. Mary'S

When
July 3, 10:00 PM EST to July 4, 1:30 AM EST
Where
St. Mary'S County, Countywide
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
38.216, -76.529 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

EventDateAgeSexWhereKind
Lightning, Calvert2000-07-0337MaleCampingDirect

What these are

Heavy Rain
Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.
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 Maryland in 2000Every state in 2000This day in weather historyWarnings in Maryland, July 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: 5165076, 5165075, 5165077.