Thunderstorms over northern Palm Beach on the evening on June 26th caused lightning to strike a car.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS MFL wrote it up.
Thunderstorms over northern Palm Beach on the evening on June 26th caused lightning to strike a car.
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 Miami, FL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jun 26, 2:43 PM EST, 2 hours 47 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL 343 PM EDT THU JUN 26 2008 .DISCUSSION... LATEST REFLECTIVITY IMAGERY FROM KAMX 88-D INDICATES SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CURRENTLY AFFECTING PRIMARILY THE NORTHWESTERN HALF OF THE FORECAST AREA AND ADJACENT GULF WATERS THIS AFTERNOON. A FEW STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE IN THIS REGION ONCE AGAIN...GIVEN STRONG INSTABILITY AND A VEERING WIND PROFILE IN PLACE ACROSS THE AREA. OVER THE SOUTHEASTERN HALF OF THE FORECAST AREA...MID-LEVEL SUBSIDENCE ASSOCIATED WITH AN UPPER- LEVEL RIDGE CENTERED TO THE NORTH OF THE BAHAMAS HAS HAD A NEGATIVE INFLUENCE ON PRECIPITATION DEVELOPMENT...AND THIS TREND IS EXPECTED TO PERSIST THROUGHOUT THE SHORT TERM. HOWEVER...THIS UPPER-LEVEL RIDGE IS NOT EXPECTED TO BE SUFFICIENTLY STRONG TO PREVENT THE DEVELOPMENT OF AT LEAST SCATTERED AFTERNOON CONVECTION ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY...PARTICULARLY IN THE VICINITY OF GULF COAST SEA BREEZE. MODEL POINT FORECAST SOUNDINGS CONTINUE TO SUGGEST A WEAK NORTH TO NORTHWEST COMPONENT TO STEERING FLOW FOR ANY ACTIVITY THAT DEVELOPS OVER SOUTH FLORIDA...AND WILL THUS PLACE HIGHEST AFTERNOON AND EVENING POPS ACROSS THE NORTHWEST COUNTIES...WITH PREVAILING EAST TO SOUTHEAST FLOW ALSO WARRANTING A SLIGHT CHANCE OF NOCTURNAL SHOWERS AND STORMS ALONG THE SOUTHEAST COAST. TEMPERATURES FROM FWC/MAV/MET MOS ALL APPEAR REASONABLE THROUGH THE PERIOD...AND WILL MAINTAIN A PERSISTENCE FORECAST WITH LOWS IN THE UPPER 70S/LOWER 80S AND HIGHS IN THE UPPER 80S/LOWER 90S. A MORE AMPLIFIED FLOW PATTERN IS STILL FORECAST BY MEDIUM RANGE GUIDANCE TO DEVELOP ACROSS NORTH AMERICA AT THE BEGINNING OF THE EXTENDED FORECAST PERIOD...AS RIDGING BECOMES MORE AMPLIFIED DOWNSTREAM FROM A POWERFUL UPPER LOW DRIFTING EASTWARD OVER THE GREAT LAKES REGION. THIS UPPER LOW WILL ULTIMATELY FORCE AXIS OF SUBTROPICAL RIDGE OVER FLORIDA TO RETREAT EASTWARD INTO THE ATLANTIC...WITH DEEP-LAYER MOISTURE EXPECTED TO SLOWLY INCREASE OVER THE AREA AS SOUTHWEST FLOW DEVELOPS ALOFT. EXPECT CHANCES FOR AFTERNOON/EVENING CONVECTION TO RETURN TO NEAR CLIMATOLOGICAL NORMAL VALUES FOR THE ENTIRE FORECAST AREA EARLY NEXT WEEK...AND REMAIN IN THIS RANGE THROUGH THE END OF THE FORECAST PERIOD. && .MARINE... EAST TO SOUTHEAST FLOW WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE LOCAL COASTAL WATERS THROUGH MUCH OF THE UPCOMING FORECAST PERIOD. EXPECT PERIODIC WIND SURGES OF 15-20 KNOTS...BUT PREVAILING FLOW TO GENERALLY REMAIN IN THE 10-15 KNOT RANGE ACROSS ALL OF THE LOCAL COASTAL WATERS. SEAS WILL RANGE FROM 2-4 FEET...AND WILL ADDRESS HIGHER WINDS WITH SCEC HEADLINE AS WARRANTED. OTHERWISE...A MODERATE TO HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS WILL CONTINUE ALONG THE ATLANTIC COAST THROUGH THE UPCOMING WEEKEND. && .FIRE WEATHER... THERE ARE NO FIRE WEATHER RELATED CONCERNS THROUGHOUT THE FORECAST PERIOD...WITH MINIMUM AFTERNOON RH VALUES EXPECTED TO REMAIN ABOVE CRITICAL LEVELS. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... WEST PALM BEACH 78 89 77 89 / 20 30 20 30 FORT LAUDERDALE 82 91 81 91 / 20 20 20 20 MIAMI 81 91 80 91 / 20 20 20 20 NAPLES 74 92 74 92 / 20 30 20 30 && .MFL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...NONE. AM...NONE. GM...NONE. && LONG TERM...70/DD SHORT TERM/AVIATION...54/BNB
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR SOUTH FLORIDA NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL 931 AM EDT THU JUN 26 2008 FLZ063-066>075-168-172>174-270200- GLADES-HENDRY-INLAND PALM BEACH-METRO PALM BEACH-COASTAL COLLIER- INLAND COLLIER-INLAND BROWARD-METRO BROWARD-INLAND MIAMI DADE- METRO MIAMI DADE-MAINLAND MONROE-COASTAL PALM BEACH- COASTAL BROWARD-COASTAL MIAMI DADE-FAR SOUTH MIAMI DADE- 931 AM EDT THU JUN 26 2008 ...HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS MIAMI-DADE AND BROWARD BEACHES TODAY... ...MODERATE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS PALM BEACH BEACHES TODAY... ...SOME STRONG STORMS OVER INTERIOR AREAS TODAY... ...SCATTERED STORMS EXPECTED TODAY, EXCEPT NUMEROUS NORTHERN INTERIOR AREAS... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTH FLORIDA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT RIP CURRENTS: EASTERLY WINDS OF 15 TO 20 MPH WILL OCCUR ALONG THE BEACHES OF MIAMI-DADE AND BROWARD COUNTIES TODAY, WHICH WILL LEAD TO A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS. EASTERLY WINDS AROUND 15 MPH ALONG THE BEACHES OF PALM BEACH COUNTY TODAY WILL LEAD TO A MODERATE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS. THUNDERSTORMS: SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP OVER MAINLAND SOUTH FLORIDA ONCE AGAIN THIS AFTERNOON. HOWEVER, A MEAN SOUTHEAST TO SOUTH STEERING FLOW WILL KEEP MOST OF THE THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY OVER THE INTERIOR AREAS OF SOUTH FLORIDA TODAY. SOME STORMS COULD BE STRONG, ESPECIALLY OVER THE NORTHERN INTERIOR AREAS WHERE THE SEA BREEZES AND THE LAKE BREEZE SHOULD CLASH, BUT ALL OF SOUTH FLORIDA COULD SEE A FEW STRONG STORMS TODAY. THE PRIMARY HAZARD EXPECTED WITH THE STRONGEST STORMS WILL BE STRONG GUSTY WINDS, FREQUENT TO EXCESSIVE LIGHTNING STRIKES, LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL AND SMALL HAIL. WIND: THE STRONGEST STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WIND GUSTS UP TO 60 MPH, ESPECIALLY OVER THE NORTHERN INTERIOR AREAS OF SOUTH FLORIDA THIS AFTERNOON INTO EARLY EVENING. HAIL: THE MID LEVELS OF THE ATMOSPHERE WILL REMAIN COOL TODAY OVER SOUTH FLORIDA. THIS WILL ALLOW FOR THE STRONGEST STORMS TO PRODUCE HAIL UP TO PENNY SIZE TODAY WHERE THE SEA BREEZES AND LAKE BREEZE COLLIDE, ESPECIALLY OVER THE NORTHERN INTERIOR AREAS OF SOUTH FLORIDA. FLOODING:THE MOVEMENT OF ANY STORM THAT DEVELOPS TODAY WILL BE SLOW ENOUGH TO PRODUCE LOCALLY HEAVY DOWNPOURS. THIS, IN TURN, COULD RESULT IN PONDING OF WATER IN POORLY DRAINED LOCATIONS ESPECIALLY OVER THE INTERIOR AREAS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY ISOLATED TO SCATTERED AFTERNOON THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP EACH DAY, ESPECIALLY OVER INLAND AND WEST COAST SECTIONS. LIGHTNING STRIKES WILL BE THE PRIMARY HAZARD. ORGANIZED SEVERE WEATHER IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME. A SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE OVER THE ATLANTIC IS EXPECTED TO BUILD WESTWARD ACROSS CENTRAL FLORIDA. THIS WILL RESULT IN MOSTLY EAST TO SOUTHEAST SURFACE WINDS AT 10 TO 15 MPH ALONG THE ATLANTIC WATERS. THIS, IN TURN, WILL RESULT IN AN ELEVATED RISK OF RIP CURRENTS THROUGH THIS PERIOD. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAYBE NEEDED ACROSS SOUTH FLORIDA THIS AFTERNOON INTO EARLY THIS EVENING. FOR MORE INFORMATION...VISIT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MIAMI WEBSITE AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/MIAMI. BAXTER
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
445 PM EDT THU JUN 26 2008
FLZ073-075-262130-
MAINLAND MONROE FL-INLAND MIAMI-DADE FL-
445 PM EDT THU JUN 26 2008
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS THE EVERGLADES...
AT 441 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 9 MILES SOUTH OF
LOOP ROAD EE CENTER TO 7 MILES SOUTHWEST OF SHARK VALLEY OBS TOWER...
MOVING NORTH AT 4 MPH.
AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.
FREQUENT TO EXCESSIVE LIGHTNING...GUSTY WINDS TO 40 MPH...DIME-SIZED
HAIL...TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS...OR A COMBINATION OF THESE ARE POSSIBLE.
LIGHTNING IS THE NUMBER ONE WEATHER RELATED KILLER IN FLORIDA. TREES
AND OPEN SHELTERS OFFER NO PROTECTION. WIND GUSTS OF UP TO 50 MPH CAN
DOWN SMALL TREE LIMBS AND BRANCHES...AND BLOW AROUND UNSECURED SMALL
OBJECTS. SEEK SHELTER IN A SAFE BUILDING UNTIL THE STORM PASSES.
LAT...LON 2552 8107 2556 8107 2556 8106 2557 8106
2557 8107 2580 8109 2579 8078 2550 8078
TIME...MOT...LOC 2045Z 184DEG 4KT 2562 8099 2562 8087
TINGLERPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
449 PM EDT THU JUN 26 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0430 PM TSTM WND GST 13 NE MOORE HAVEN 26.97N 80.95W
06/26/2008 M41 MPH AMZ610 FL MESONET
MESONET ON LAKE OKEECHOBEE RECORDED A 36 KNOT WIND GUST.
&&
GREGORIAPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
451 PM EDT THU JUN 26 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0430 PM TSTM WND GST 21 NNW CANAL POINT 27.14N 80.76W
06/26/2008 M40 MPH AMZ610 FL MESONET
MESONET ON LAKE OKEECHOBEE RECORDED A 35 KNOT WIND GUST.
&&
GREGORIAPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
456 PM EDT THU JUN 26 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0415 PM TSTM WND GST 10 NW PAHOKEE 26.92N 80.77W
06/26/2008 M41 MPH AMZ610 FL MESONET
MESONET ON LAKE OKEECHOBEE RECORDED A 36 KNOT WIND GUST.
&&
GREGORIAPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
511 PM EDT THU JUN 26 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0445 PM TSTM WND GST 21 NNW CANAL POINT 27.14N 80.76W
06/26/2008 M51 MPH AMZ610 FL MESONET
MESONET SENSOR ON LAKE OKEECHOBEE RECORDED A 44 KNOT WIND
GUST.
&&
GREGORIASPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
523 PM EDT THU JUN 26 2008
FLZ067-068-262200-
INLAND PALM BEACH COUNTY FL-METRO PALM BEACH COUNTY FL-
523 PM EDT THU JUN 26 2008
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHEASTERN
PALM BEACH COUNTY...
AT 518 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 8 MILES SOUTH OF
INDIANTOWN TO ROYAL PALM BEACH...MOVING EAST AT 18 MPH.
THESE STORMS WILL AFFECT...
ROYAL PALM BEACH...
THE ACREAGE...
NORTH PALM BEACH GENERAL AIRPORT...
HAVERHILL...
CALOOSA...
JUPITER FARMS...
PHILO FARMS...
AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.
FREQUENT TO EXCESSIVE LIGHTNING...GUSTY WINDS TO 50 MPH...PEA-SIZED
HAIL...TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS...OR A COMBINATION OF THESE ARE POSSIBLE.
LIGHTNING IS THE NUMBER ONE WEATHER RELATED KILLER IN FLORIDA. TREES
AND OPEN SHELTERS OFFER NO PROTECTION. WIND GUSTS OF UP TO 50 MPH CAN
DOWN SMALL TREE LIMBS AND BRANCHES...AND BLOW AROUND UNSECURED SMALL
OBJECTS. SEEK SHELTER IN A SAFE BUILDING UNTIL THE STORM PASSES.
STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND OTHER LOCAL MEDIA FOR FURTHER
DETAILS OR UPDATES.
LAT...LON 2663 8025 2696 8055 2696 8043 2696 8018
2669 8009
TIME...MOT...LOC 2123Z 252DEG 16KT 2693 8041 2669 8018
GREGORIAThe Melbourne radar (KMLB), 143 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:27 UTC.
1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
A car was struck by lightning while driving on I-95 in northern Palm Beach County between Indiantown and Donald Ross roads. A female passenger was taken to the hospital for precationary measures. The vehicle was inoperable, likely due to electrical damage caused by the lightning strike.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Florida in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Florida, June 2008
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: 113373.