Rhode Island, 2000

Lightning Strike in Rhode Island, September 2, 2000

September 2, 2000 · NWS BOX · 1 event in 1 county or zone

Lightning struck two utility poles in Portsmouth, causing high-tension wires to fall to the ground and temporarily closing roads. Lightning also struck a house in Portsmouth, starting a fire.

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
$20,000
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.

What happened

The episode as NWS BOX wrote it up.

Lightning struck two utility poles in Portsmouth, causing high-tension wires to fall to the ground and temporarily closing roads. Lightning also struck a house in Portsmouth, starting a fire.

The radar

The Boston radar (KBOX), 52 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:28 UTC.

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Event by event

1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Lightning, Newport

When
September 2, 1:30 PM EST to 2:00 PM EST
Where
Newport County, Portsmouth
Property damage
$20,000
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
41.500, -71.281 (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 Rhode Island in 2000Every state in 2000This day in weather historyWarnings in Rhode Island, 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: 5157034.