Lightning Strike in Florida, October 26, 2003

Name: Lightning Strike in Florida, October 26, 2003
Start: 2003-10-26T09:30
End: 2003-10-26T09:30
Location: Florida

October 26, 2003 · NWS MOB · 1 event in 1 county or zone

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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 1
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 Mobile, AL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Oct 26, 3:34 AM CST, 5 hours 56 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Oct 26, 3:34 AM CST, 5 hours 56 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
330 AM CST SUN 26 OCT 2003

.SHORT TERM...A STRONG LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS HAVE DEVELOPED AHEAD OF
AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT THAT WILL PUSH ACROSS THE CWA LATER THIS
AFTERNOON. RADAR SHOWS THESE STORMS PUSHING EASTWARD ACROSS SE MS
AND INTO SW AL ATTM. WITH MODERATE INSTABILITIES (2000+ CAPES) AND
LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR OUT AHEAD...EXPECT MAINLY THE SOUTHERN FLANK TO
BRING A SLIGHT THREAT OF ISOLATED DOWNBURST WINDS AND/OR TORNADOES TO
MAINLY THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE CWA WHERE HIGHER MOISTURE AND
INSTABILITIES ARE POOLED. THIS ACTIVITY IS BEING DRIVEN BY A WEAKER
SHORTWAVE OUT AHEAD OF THE MAIN UPPER TROUGH. THEREFORE...EXPECT
REGENERATION OF STORMS ALONG THE FRONT LATER TODAY...ESPECIALLY WITH
HELP FROM AFTERNOON HEATING. HAVE GONE A BIT HIGHER WITH POPS ALL
AREAS TODAY...THEN CLOSER TO GUIDANCE SCATTERED COVERAGE TONIGHT...
AS POST FRONTAL ACTIVITY PERSISTS WITH APPROACHING LONGWAVE UPPER
TROUGH. CLOUDS AND SLIGHT CHANCE OF RAIN WILL PERSIST INTO MONDAY
MORNING...THEN CLEARING MONDAY AFTERNOON AS THE UPPER TROUGH FINALLY
PUSHES EAST. CLEAR AND COOL CONDITIONS ON TAP MONDAY AND TUESDAY...
THEN A WARMING TREND ON WEDNESDAY AS WINDS TURN AROUND IN RESPONSE TO
HIGH PRESSURE MOVING EAST.

.EXTENDED...MRF SHOWS HIGH PRESSURE DOMINATING THE SE FROM WEDNESDAY
INTO THE WEEKEND...WITH THE JET STREAM AND ASSOCIATED WEATHER SYSTEMS
BEING DEFLECTED WELL NORTH.  DESPITE THIS...WILL CONTINUE TO SHOW A
SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS FOR FRIDAY AND SATURDAY WITH A DEEP
SOUTHERLY FLOW IN PLACE.

.MARINE...LIGHT ONSHORE FLOW WILL SWITCH TO LIGHT OFFSHORE FLOW
MONDAY AS MODERATE FRONT MOVES ACROSS COASTAL WATERS. SCATTERED TO
NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL PRECEDE FRONTAL PASSAGE.
FEEL SC CAUTION LEVELS WINDS WILL BE LIKELY LATE MONDAY INTO
TUESDAY...BUT LESS CONFIDENT OF SCA LEVEL WINDS. ONSHORE FLOW WILL
RETURN BY LATE WEDNESDAY AS HIGH PRESSURE OFF THE EASTERN US
RE-ASSERTS ITSELF.

.FIRE...NO CONCERNS UNTIL MONDAY AND TUESDAY WITH DRIER AIR IN-
PLACE.

.PRELIMINARY TEMPS / POPS...
MOBILE     77 56 65 43 / 80 40 20 00
PENSACOLA  78 62 68 47 / 70 50 30 00
DESTIN     77 66 67 50 / 70 50 40 00
EVERGREEN  75 57 62 39 / 80 50 30 00
WAYNESBORO 68 50 62 39 / 80 40 20 00
CAMDEN     76 56 62 39 / 80 50 20 00

.MOB ...
AL...NONE.
FL...NONE.
MS...NONE.

39/16

Hazardous weather outlook, Oct 26, 6:55 AM CST, 2 hours 35 minutes before

ALZ051>064-FLZ001>006-MSZ067-075-076-078-079-261800-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
655 AM CST SUN OCT 26 2003

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHWEST ALABAMA...INTERIOR
SOUTHEAST MISSISSIPPI AND THE WESTERN FLORIDA PANHANDLE.

.DAY ONE...(TODAY AND TONIGHT)

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS PORTIONS OF
SOUTHWEST ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA EARLY TODAY...MAINLY ALONG
AND EAST OF THE I-65 CORRIDOR. A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE EAST
ACROSS SOUTHWEST ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA THIS MORNING. A FEW
STORMS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS LINE COULD BECOME SEVERE...PRODUCING WIND
GUSTS TO NEAR 60 MPH AND OR DIME TO NICKEL SIZE HAIL.  AN ISOLATED
TORNADO IS ALSO POSSIBLE...MAINLY OVER THE ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST
FLORIDA COASTAL COUNTIES WHERE BETTER WIND SHEAR AND INSTABILITIES
ARE POOLED.

THE LINE OF STORMS WILL PUSH EAST OF THE AREA BY EARLY AFTERNOON...
HOWEVER...SCATTERED SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO
DEVELOP ALONG AND AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT THAT WILL PUSH ACROSS THE
AREA LATER TODAY.  BEHIND THE FRONT...AREAS OF LIGHT RAIN WITH
EMBEDDED SHOWERS...AND POSSIBLY AN ISOLATED THUNDERSTORM WILL
PERSIST THROUGH TONIGHT AS A STRONG UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE GRADUALLY
MOVES ACROSS THE AREA.  ALTHOUGH SEVERE STORMS ARE NOT EXPECTED
TONIGHT...IF A THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPS...IT COULD PRODUCE WIND GUSTS TO
NEAR 50 MPH AND SMALL HAIL.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN (MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY)

BEHIND A STRONG COLD FRONT...SCATTERED MORNING SHOWERS WILL DIMINISH
EARLY MONDAY...WITH A DRIER AND MUCH COOLER AIRMASS SETTLING IN OVER
THE REGION THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON.  DRY AND COOL CONDITIONS WILL
PREVAIL THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT...THEN A WARMING TREND IS ON TAP BY
WEDNESDAY AS HIGH PRESSURE SHIFTS EAST AND SOUTHERLY WINDS BECOME
ESTABLISHED.

.SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT...

ACTIVATION OF EMERGENCY MANAGERS AND STORM SPOTTERS MAY BE REQUIRED
THROUGH TONIGHT.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Oct 26, 6:13 AM CST, 3 hours 17 minutes before

ALZ054>060-062-064-FLZ001>006-GMZ650-655-670-675-261300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
613 AM CST SUN OCT 26 2003

...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 940 IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHERN ALABAMA AND PARTS
OF THE WESTERN FLORIDA PANHANDLE THOUGH 11 AM CST...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WATCH FOR PARTS OF SOUTHWEST ALABAMA...SOUTHEAST
MISSISSIPPI AND THE WESTERN FLORIDA PANHANDLE. THIS WATCH IS IN
EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM CST AND REPLACES TORNADO WATCH 939 IN EFFECT
UNTIL 7 AM. INCLUDED IN THIS WATCH IN THE MOBILE OFFICE AREA OF
RESPONSIBILITY ARE:

IN ALABAMA

BALDWIN...CRENSHAW...WILCOX...ESCAMBIA...COVINGTON

IN FLORIDA

ESCAMBIA...OKALOOSA AND SANTA ROSA COUNTIES.

Special weather statement, Oct 26, 6:13 AM CST, 3 hours 17 minutes before

ALZ054>060-062-064-FLZ001>006-GMZ650-655-670-675-261300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTION TO INCLUDE MARINE AREAS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
613 AM CST SUN OCT 26 2003

...TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 940 IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHERN ALABAMA AND PARTS
OF THE WESTERN FLORIDA PANHANDLE THOUGH 11 AM CST...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WATCH FOR PARTS OF SOUTHWEST ALABAMA...SOUTHEAST
MISSISSIPPI AND THE WESTERN FLORIDA PANHANDLE. THIS WATCH IS IN
EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM CST AND REPLACES TORNADO WATCH 939 IN EFFECT
UNTIL 7 AM. INCLUDED IN THIS WATCH IN THE MOBILE OFFICE AREA OF
RESPONSIBILITY ARE:

IN ALABAMA

BALDWIN...CRENSHAW...WILCOX...ESCAMBIA...COVINGTON

IN FLORIDA

ESCAMBIA...OKALOOSA AND SANTA ROSA COUNTIES.

COASTAL WATERS

PASCAGOULA TO DESTIN...OUT 60 NM

Special weather statement, Oct 26, 9:00 AM CST, 30 minutes before

FLZ005-006-261600-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
900 AM CST SUN OCT 26 2003

...LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING EAST ACROSS OVER OKALOOSA
COUNTY...

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF
THUNDERSTORMS FROM 4 MILES WEST OF LAUREL HILL TO NEAR
DESTIN...MOVING EAST AT ABOUT 20 MPH.

THE LINE OF STORMS EXTENDED FROM NEAR LAUREL HILL...TO DORCAS...TO
NICEVILLE...TO NEAR FORT WALTON BEACH.  THIS LINE OF STORMS WILL
MOVE ACROSS THE EASTERN PORTIONS OF OKALOOSA COUNTY THROUGH 1000 AM.

THE PRIMARY THREATS FROM THESE STORMS WILL STRONG WIND GUSTS AND
DANGEROUS LIGHTNING. WIND GUSTS UP TO AROUND 45 MPH...WHICH COULD
DOWN SMALL TREE LIMBS OR BRANCHES AND BLOW AROUND UNSECURED SMALL
OBJECTS.  FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING STRIKES ARE LIKELY.
SEEK SHELTER IN A SAFE HOME OR BUILDING UNTIL THESE STORMS HAVE
PASSED.

THESE STORMS COULD PRODUCE RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF TWO TO THREE INCHES
IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME...RESULTING IN BRIEF PONDING OF WATER
AROUND LOW LYING AREAS.  REMEMBER...DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO
WATER COVERED ROADWAYS.  THE DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW A SAFE
CROSSING.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 AM CST SUNDAY MORNING
FOR SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Lightning, Okaloosa

When: October 26, 9:30 AM CST
Where: Okaloosa County, Destin
Deaths: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 30.665, -86.592 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A 49 year old male, from the local area, was surfing in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico in front of the Eglin Community Beach Club near Destin when he was struck by a bolt of lightning. Other surfers pulled the man out of the water, and emergency personnel transported him to a local hospital, where he later died. Thunderstorms had moved through the area earlier in the morning. The overcast sky, after most of the storms had moved out of the area, produced the isolated, but deadly, lightning bolt.

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.

Event	Date	Age	Sex	Where	Kind
Lightning, Okaloosa	2003-10-26	49	Male	In Water	Direct

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

Every storm in Florida in 2003 Every state in 2003 This day in weather history Warnings in Florida, October 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: 5371913.