Lightning, Union
- When
- May 18, 4:30 PM EST
- Where
- Union County, Lake Butler
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 30.044, -82.371 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Mobile home set on fire by lightning strike.
Lightning Strike in Florida, May 18, 2003
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
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 forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Jacksonville, FL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 18, 2:00 PM EST, 2 hours 30 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 18, 2:00 PM EST, 2 hours 30 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL 300 PM EDT SUN MAY 18 2003 PUBLIC...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR WHOLE CWA UNTIL 8 PM. AS UPPER LOW DROPS SOUTH TO THE GULF...IMPRESSIVE UPPER DIVERGENT PATTERN COUPLED WITH IMPRESSIVE INSTABILITY PARAMETERS TO RESULT IN A GOOD CHANCE OF STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS THIS EVENING. MAIN CONCERN WILL BE PULSE TYPE SEVERE. GOOD AREA OF CONVERGENCE BETWEEN HIGHWAY 301 AND I-75 WHERE MOST STORMS ARE FIRING UP. HIGHEST POPS WILL BE ACROSS THIS AREA (50 TO 60 PCT) THIS EVE. A FEW STORMS MAY LINGER OVERNITE ACROSS INLAND GA. MONDAY...SIMILAR PATTERN AS TODAY WITH UPPER LOW ENTERING GULF AND STRONG UPPER DIVERGENT PATTERN AND GOOD LOW LEVEL MOISTURE FROM THE SOUTHEAST. HIGHEST POPS INLAND (60 PCT) AND SLIGHTLY LOWER TOWARDS THE COAST. TUESDAY...HAVE LEANED TOWARDS ETA MODEL WHICH KEEPS WEDGE JUST NORTH OF THE AREA...BUT MOIST SE FLOW RESULTING IN A CHC POPS MOST AREAS. WEDNESDAY...COLD APPROACHES FROM THE NW RESULTING IN A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS LATE WEDNESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY NIGHT. EXTENDED...AS AN UPPER TROUGH DIGS SOUTHEAST FROM THE GREAT LAKES TO THE GULF OF MEXICO...FRONTAL BOUNDARY SAGS SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE CWA THURSDAY AND STALLS OVER NORTH FLORIDA FRIDAY. MRF DEVELOPS WAVE ALONG FRONT WHICH MAY ENHANCE PRECIP. NOT SURE TO BUY INTO THAT THIS EARLY...HOWEVER WITH FRONTAL SYSTEM IN THE AREA...WILL GO WITH A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS BOTH THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. AS AN UPPER LOW CLOSES OFF IN THE EASTERN U.S. DURING THE WEEKEND THE COLD FRONT PUSHES THROUGH WITH DRIER AIR MOVING IN. HAVE GONE WITH LOW POPS FOR SATURDAY AND A 10 PERCENT POP (SILENT) FOR SUNDAY. MARINE...NO HEADLINES. FIRE WX...NO CONCERNS. .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... AMG 68 86 66 80 / 60 60 20 50 SSI 71 82 71 79 / 40 50 20 30 JAX 70 86 70 80 / 40 50 20 50 SGJ 72 84 73 80 / 30 40 20 40 GNV 69 90 68 85 / 30 50 30 50 OCF 69 92 68 87 / 30 40 20 50 .JAX... FL...NONE. GA...NONE. PP/JH
Hazardous weather outlook, May 18, 12:49 PM EST, 3 hours 41 minutes before
FLZ020>025-030>033-035>038-040-GAZ132>136-149>154-162>166-190000- HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL 149 PM EDT SUN MAY 18 2003 UPDATED TO INCLUDE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 413 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST FLORIDA AND SOUTHEAST GEORGIA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT... ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM... ...RISK OF RIP CURRENTS AT THE BEACHES ABOVE NORMAL... SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 413 IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM THIS EVENING. THIS WATCH INCLUDES ALL COUNTIES IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA AND SOUTHEAST GEORGIA AND THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS. AN UPPER LEVEL SYSTEM COMBINED WITH THE SEA BREEZE BOUNDARY AND A COLD FRONT JUST TO THE NORTH WILL RESULT IN SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS ALL OF NORTHEAST FLORIDA AND SOUTHEAST GEORGIA THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE BEST CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE FROM NEAR THE HIGHWAY 301 CORRIDOR WEST TO THE I-75 CORRIDOR. STORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE WITH LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...AND FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING THE MAIN CONCERNS. THE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS AT THE BEACHES WILL BE ABOVE NORMAL. PLEASE REFER TO THE SURF ZONE FORECAST. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TOMORROW THROUGH SATURDAY... A COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO THE REGION THURSDAY AND FRIDAY INCREASING THE CHANCES OF THUNDERSTORMS BOTH THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED NEXT WEEKEND. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS REQUESTED AT THIS TIME. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION...VISIT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN JACKSONVILLE WEBSITE ON THE INTERNET AT WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/JAX. PP/HESS
In the hours before
Special weather statement, May 18, 3:40 PM EST, 50 minutes before
GAZ150-182115- SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL 440 PM EDT SUN MAY 18 2003 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT THE FOLLOWING WARE COUNTY THROUGH 515 PM... AT 440 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CENTERED 11 MILES SOUTH OF NEEDHAM...OR ABOUT 11 MILES SOUTHEAST OF ARGYLE...MOVING NORTH AT 10 MPH. THIS STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL ALSO AFFECT AREAS AROUND WAYCROSS...WARESBORO... SUNNYSIDE...NEEDHAM AND DEENWOOD THROUGH 515 PM EDT. HAIL UP TO ONE HALF INCH IN DIAMETER...EXCESSIVE CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS OF 45 TO 55 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED ALONG WITH POSSIBLE MINOR DAMAGE. TRABERT
Special weather statement, May 18, 3:44 PM EST, 46 minutes before
FLZ021-182145- SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL 444 PM EDT SUN MAY 18 2003 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT NORTHERN SUWANNEE COUNTY... AT 444 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CENTERED 7 MILES NORTHWEST OF LIVE OAK...OR ABOUT 6 MILES SOUTHEAST OF SUWANNEE RIVER STATE PARK...NEARLY STATIONARY. THIS CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL ALSO AFFECT AREAS AROUND NEWBURN...LIVE OAK AND HOUSTON THROUGH 545 PM EDT. HAIL UP TO ONE HALF INCH IN DIAMETER...EXCESSIVE CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS OF 45 TO 55 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED ALONG WITH POSSIBLE MINOR DAMAGE. TAKE SHELTER IF LIGHTNING IS IN YOUR AREA. BROYLES
Local storm report, May 18, 4:02 PM EST, 28 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE, FL
502 PM EDT SUN MAY 18 2003
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0315 PM WAYCROSS GA WIND DAMAGE
05/18/03 WARE SEVERAL LARGE TREES DOWN
IN THE WESTERN SUBURBS
REPORTED BY EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT
0425 PM 5 N LAKE CITY FL 2.00 INCH HAIL
05/18/03 COLUMBIA HAIL COVERING THE GROUND
REPORTED BY SKYWARN SPOTTER
PPSpecial weather statement, May 18, 4:13 PM EST, 17 minutes before
GAZ132-149-182145- SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL 513 PM EDT SUN MAY 18 2003 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT THE FOLLOWING ATKINSON AND COFFEE COUNTIES THROUGH 545 PM... AT 513 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CENTERED 11 MILES SOUTH OF DOUGLAS...OR ABOUT 3 MILES NORTH OF PEARSON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH. THIS STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL ALSO AFFECT AREAS AROUND DOUGLAS...NICHOLLS AND WEST GREEN THROUGH 545 PM EDT. HAIL UP TO ONE HALF INCH IN DIAMETER...EXCESSIVE CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS OF 45 TO 55 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED ALONG WITH POSSIBLE MINOR DAMAGE. TRABERT
Local storm report, May 18, 4:20 PM EST, 10 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE, FL
520 PM EDT SUN MAY 18 2003
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0500 PM WEST LAKE FL .75 INCH HAIL
05/18/03 HAMILTON REPORTED BY SKYWARN
SPOTTER
PPSpecial weather statement, May 18, 4:25 PM EST, 5 minutes before
FLZ040-182230- SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL 525 PM EDT SUN MAY 18 2003 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT EASTERN MARION COUNTY THROUGH 630 PM... AT 525 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM ABOUT 4 MILES EAST OF JUNIPER SPRINGS...MOVING SOUTH AT 10 MPH. THIS STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT AREAS AROUND THE OCALA NATIONAL FOREST THROUGH 630 PM EDT. HAIL UP TO ONE HALF INCH IN DIAMETER...EXCESSIVE CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS OF 45 TO 55 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED ALONG WITH POSSIBLE MINOR DAMAGE. TAKE SHELTER IF LIGHTNING IS IN YOUR AREA. BROYLES
The radar
The Jacksonville radar (KJAX), 81 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:28 UTC.
Event by event
1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
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
- High Surf in New York, May 18, 2003
- Flash Flood in Alabama, May 18, 2003
- Flash Flood in Alabama, May 18, 2003
- Winter Storm in Montana, May 18, 2003
- Flooding in Virginia, May 18 to 21, 2003
- Frost and Freeze in Vermont, May 18, 2003
- Frost and Freeze in Massachusetts, May 18, 2003
- Frost and Freeze in New York, May 18, 2003
- Frost and Freeze in Connecticut, May 18, 2003
- Hail in Colorado, May 18, 2003
- Flood in Alabama, May 18 to 27, 2003
- Flood in Alabama, May 18 to 19, 2003
More
Every storm in Florida in 2003Every state in 2003This day in weather historyWarnings in Florida, May 2003
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: 5354936.