Lightning Strike in New Hampshire, July 18, 2008

Name: Lightning Strike in New Hampshire, July 18, 2008
Start: 2008-07-18T18:00
End: 2008-07-18T18:00
Location: New Hampshire

July 18, 2008 · NWS GYX · 1 event in 1 county or zone

A lightning strike ignited a fire that burned down a house in Newington.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $200,000
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 GYX wrote it up.

A lightning strike ignited a fire that burned down a house in Newington.

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 Gray, ME wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 18, 2:46 PM EST, 3 hours 14 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 18, 2:46 PM EST, 3 hours 14 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME
346 PM EDT FRI JUL 18 2008

.SYNOPSIS...
A FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL REMAIN NEARLY STATIONARY ACROSS EXTREME
NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND TONIGHT AND SATURDAY. THIS FRONT WILL BEGIN
TO MOVE SLOWLY SOUTH SUNDAY AS LOW PRESSURE DEVELOPS IN THE
MIDWEST. LOW PRESSURE WILL MOVE THROUGH THE REGION MONDAY.

&&

.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM SATURDAY MORNING/...
STRONG TO SEVERE TSTMS WILL CONT INTO EARLY THIS EVENING THEN A
CHC OF SHRA AND TSRA WILL LINGER THRU THE NGT AS PATCHY F FORMS.
WILL USE GFS40 AND MAV MOS. SEVERE TSTM WATCH IN EFFECT THRU 8 PM.

&&

.SHORT TERM /6 AM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH 6 PM SATURDAY/...
A FRONTAL BOUNDARY ACROSS FAR NRN NEW ENGLAND WILL KEEP THE FA
IN VERY WARM AND HUMID WX ON SATURDAY WITH A CHC OF SHRA AND TSRA.
SOME TSTMS MAY BE STRONG TO PSBLY SEVERE. WITH SEVERE WEATHER
OCCURRING NOW WILL NOT HIGHLIGHT IN THE ZONES FOR TOMORROW AT
THIS TIME. USED GFS40 AND MAV MOS.

&&

.LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/...
MODELS ARE SOMEWHAT SIMILAR THROUGH THE PERIOD. THE FORECAST
CHALLENGE IS THE TRACK OF A COUPLE OF SFC LOWS THAT WILL AFFECT
THE REGION LATE IN THE WEEKEND AND EARLY NEXT WEEK. THE GFS WANTS
TO RUN THE LOW JUST TO OUR SOUTH PRODUCING COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF
RAINFALL WITH TROPICAL MOISTURE GETTING INVOLVED WITH THE SYSTEM.
THE NAM IS FARTHER NORTH AND KEEPS THE TROPICAL MOISTURE TO THE
SOUTH. THE 12Z ECMWF IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE GFS. I LEANED TOWARD A
BLEND OF THESE 2 MODELS. PRECIPITATION COULD BE HEAVY LATE SUNDAY
AND MONDAY. WILL HAVE TO WATCH THIS CAREFULLY

&&

.AVIATION /20Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
SHORT TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY/...VFR EXCEPT IN ANY STRONG TO PSBLY
SEVERE TSTMS INTO THIS EVENING OR IN ANY LATE NGT VALLEY F. CHC
FOR STRONG TSTMS AGAIN SATURDAY.

LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
EXPECT MVFR/IFR CONDITIONS SAT NGT IN SHOWERS AND FOG. SUNDAY
SHOULD SEE CONDITIONS IMPROVE TO VFR EXCEPT IN SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS. SUNDAY NIGHT CONDITIONS SHOULD AGAIN LWR TO
MVFR/IFR AND THIS WILL LIKELY LAST THROUGH EARLY MONDAY NIGHT. VFR
EXPECT TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY.

&&

.MARINE...
SHORT TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY/...WINDS AND SEAS WILL STAY BLO SCA
LVLS THOUGH SWELLS WILL BE CLOSE TO 5 FT THRU PART OF TNGT DUE TO
A SE SWELL FROM TROPICAL STORM BERTHA.

LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
SMALL CRAFT CRITERIA MAY BE MET SUNDAY NGT THROUGH TUES AM.

&&

.GYX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ME...NONE.
NH...NONE.
MARINE...NONE.

&&

SYNOPSIS...
NEAR TERM...
SHORT TERM...
LONG TERM...
AVIATION...
MARINE...

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 18, 12:30 PM EST, 5 hours 30 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME
130 PM EDT FRI JUL 18 2008

MEZ007-012-018>020-023>025-NHZ001>010-013-014-191730-
NORTHERN OXFORD-SOUTHERN OXFORD-INTERIOR YORK-INTERIOR CUMBERLAND-
ANDROSCOGGIN-COASTAL YORK-COASTAL CUMBERLAND-SAGADAHOC-NORTHERN COOS-
SOUTHERN COOS-NORTHERN GRAFTON-NORTHERN CARROLL-SOUTHERN GRAFTON-
SOUTHERN CARROLL-SULLIVAN-MERRIMACK-BELKNAP-STRAFFORD-
INTERIOR ROCKINGHAM-COASTAL ROCKINGHAM-
130 PM EDT FRI JUL 18 2008

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 698 IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN MAINE...CENTRAL NEW
HAMPSHIRE...NORTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND SOUTHEASTERN NEW HAMPSHIRE.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CALL OR RADIO IN SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

MEZ008-009-013-014-021-022-026>028-191730-
NORTHERN FRANKLIN-CENTRAL SOMERSET-SOUTHERN FRANKLIN-
SOUTHERN SOMERSET-KENNEBEC-INTERIOR WALDO-LINCOLN-KNOX-COASTAL WALDO-
130 PM EDT FRI JUL 18 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN MAINE.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STORM PREDICTION CENTER FORECASTS A
SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND AND
ASSOCIATED COASTAL WATERS TODAY AND TONIGHT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CALL OR RADIO IN SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

ANZ150-151-191730-
STONINGTON ME TO PORT CLYDE ME OUT TO 25 NM-PENOBSCOT BAY-
130 PM EDT FRI JUL 18 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PENOBSCOT BAY AND THE COASTAL
WATERS FROM STONINGTON ME TO PORT CLYDE ME.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STORM PREDICTION CENTER FORECASTS A
SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND AND
ASSOCIATED COASTAL WATERS TODAY AND TONIGHT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CALL OR RADIO IN SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

ANZ152>154-191730-
PORT CLYDE ME TO CAPE ELIZABETH ME OUT TO 25 NM-CASCO BAY-
CAPE ELIZABETH ME TO MERRIMACK RIVER MA OUT TO 25 NM-
130 PM EDT FRI JUL 18 2008

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 698 IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CASCO BAY...THE COASTAL
WATERS FROM CAPE ELIZABETH ME TO MERRIMACK RIVER MA AND THE COASTAL
WATERS FROM PORT CLYDE ME TO CAPE ELIZABETH ME.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CALL OR RADIO IN SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 18, 4:16 PM EST, 1 hour 44 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME
516 PM EDT FRI JUL 18 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0506 PM     HAIL             MOULTONBOROUGH          43.75N 71.40W
07/18/2008  M0.88 INCH       CARROLL            NH   PUBLIC

&&

TAYLOR

Local storm report, Jul 18, 4:17 PM EST, 1 hour 43 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME
517 PM EDT FRI JUL 18 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0458 PM     HAIL             CANTERBURY              43.34N 71.57W
07/18/2008  M0.88 INCH       MERRIMACK          NH   PUBLIC

&&

TAYLOR

Local storm report, Jul 18, 4:18 PM EST, 1 hour 42 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME
518 PM EDT FRI JUL 18 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0500 PM     TSTM WND DMG     SANDWICH                43.79N 71.41W
07/18/2008                   CARROLL            NH   AMATEUR RADIO

            FIRE DEPT REPORTING TREES DOWN ACROSS WIRES

&&

TAYLOR

Special weather statement, Jul 18, 4:18 PM EST, 1 hour 42 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME
518 PM EDT FRI JUL 18 2008

MEZ007-NHZ001-002-190030-
NORTHERN OXFORD-NORTHERN COOS-SOUTHERN COOS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ANDOVER...BYRON...MIDDLE DAM...
ROXBURY...SOUTH ARM...UPTON...WILSONS MILLS
518 PM EDT FRI JUL 18 2008

...LOCALLY HEAVY RAINS MAY CAUSE SOME MINOR FLOODING...

OVER THE PAST SEVERAL HOURS A SERIES OF HEAVY SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
MOVED ACROSS THE AREA. AS OF 5 PM ANOTHER AREA OF HEAVY SHOWERS AND
SOME THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED TO MOVE ACROSS THE ENTIRE AREA.

RADAR INDICATED SOME RAINFALL RATES OVER THE LAST FEW HOURS WERE
APPROACHING 3 INCHES.

SOME MINOR FLOODING OF ROADWAYS AND SMALL RIVERS AND STREAMS MAY
OCCUR IN SOME LOCALIZED AREAS.

ALL PERSONS SHOULD BE ALERT AND BE AWARE OF ANY SUDDEN RISES IN
WATER LEVELS OVER THE NEXT FEW HOURS.

Special weather statement, Jul 18, 5:26 PM EST, 34 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME
626 PM EDT FRI JUL 18 2008

MEZ014-021-022-026>028-182330-
COASTAL WALDO-INTERIOR WALDO-KENNEBEC-KNOX-LINCOLN-SOUTHERN SOMERSET-
626 PM EDT FRI JUL 18 2008

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT KENNEBEC COUNTY...SOMERSET
COUNTY...WALDO COUNTY...KNOX COUNTY AND LINCOLN COUNTY THROUGH 730 PM
EDT...

AT 626 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CENTERED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM
6 MILES NORTHWEST OF CLINTON TO 3 MILES NORTHWEST OF AUGUSTA MOVING
EAST AT 40 MPH. THIS CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT
AREAS IN AND AROUND HALLOWELL...FARMINGDALE...WINSLOW...WATERVILLE
...VASSALBORO...SIDNEY...FAIRFIELD...CLINTON...BENTON AND AUGUSTA
THROUGH 730 PM EDT.

HAIL UP TO ONE HALF INCH IN DIAMETER...HEAVY DOWNPOURS...EXCESSIVE
CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS UP TO 50 MPH CAN BE
EXPECTED.

SJC

Local storm report, Jul 18, 5:51 PM EST, 9 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME
651 PM EDT FRI JUL 18 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0500 PM     HAIL             EATON                   43.91N 71.08W
07/18/2008  M0.88 INCH       CARROLL            NH   PUBLIC

0505 PM     HAIL             LEBANON                 43.64N 72.25W
07/18/2008  M0.88 INCH       GRAFTON            NH   PUBLIC

            WEST LEBANON

0512 PM     HAIL             3 S ENFIELD             43.60N 72.14W
07/18/2008  M0.88 INCH       GRAFTON            NH   PUBLIC

0520 PM     TSTM WND DMG     GILMANTON               43.42N 71.42W
07/18/2008                   BELKNAP            NH   PUBLIC

            NUMEROUS TREES DOWN

0520 PM     HAIL             BARNSTEAD               43.33N 71.29W
07/18/2008  M0.50 INCH       BELKNAP            NH   PUBLIC

0539 PM     LIGHTNING        STANDISH                43.74N 70.55W
07/18/2008                   CUMBERLAND         ME   PUBLIC

            LIGHTNING STRIKES 2 PEOPLE

0546 PM     TSTM WND DMG     ENFIELD                 43.64N 72.14W
07/18/2008                   GRAFTON            NH   AMATEUR RADIO

            NUMEROUS TREES DOWN

0548 PM     TSTM WND DMG     WESTBROOK               43.68N 70.37W
07/18/2008                   CUMBERLAND         ME   AMATEUR RADIO

            TREES DOWN ACROSS WIRES ON SPRING STREET

0550 PM     HAIL             ACTON                   43.53N 70.91W
07/18/2008  M0.75 INCH       YORK               ME   PUBLIC

0552 PM     TSTM WND DMG     SANFORD                 43.44N 70.77W
07/18/2008                   YORK               ME   AMATEUR RADIO

            LARGE BRANCHES

0552 PM     TSTM WND DMG     STRAFFORD               43.33N 71.18W
07/18/2008                   STRAFFORD          NH   PUBLIC

            STRUCTUAL DAMAGE

0552 PM     HAIL             STRAFFORD               43.33N 71.18W
07/18/2008  E2.00 INCH       STRAFFORD          NH   PUBLIC

            MULTIPLE REPORTS OF 2 INCH HAIL, 1 3/4 HAIL, 1 1/2 HAIL,
            AND 1 INCH HAIL

0554 PM     HAIL             SANFORD                 43.44N 70.77W
07/18/2008  M0.75 INCH       YORK               ME   PUBLIC

0554 PM     HAIL             BARRINGTON              43.22N 71.05W
07/18/2008  E1.75 INCH       STRAFFORD          NH   PUBLIC

            MULTIPLE REPORTS OF 1 3/4 HAIL, 1 1/2 HAIL AND 1 INCH
            HAIL OVER BARRINGTON

0556 PM     HAIL             STRAFFORD               43.33N 71.18W
07/18/2008  M1.00 INCH       STRAFFORD          NH   PUBLIC

0603 PM     TSTM WND DMG     SANFORD                 43.44N 70.77W
07/18/2008                   YORK               ME   TRAINED SPOTTER

            PENNY-SIZED HAIL. TREES DOWN ON POWER LINES. POWER OUT.

0610 PM     TSTM WND DMG     BERWICK                 43.27N 70.86W
07/18/2008                   YORK               ME   PUBLIC

            NUMEROUS TREES DOWN

0615 PM     HAIL             MADBURY                 43.17N 70.92W
07/18/2008  E1.00 INCH       STRAFFORD          NH   PUBLIC

0615 PM     HAIL             BARRINGTON              43.22N 71.05W
07/18/2008  M1.75 INCH       STRAFFORD          NH   PUBLIC

0620 PM     HAIL             DURHAM                  43.13N 70.93W
07/18/2008  M0.75 INCH       STRAFFORD          NH   PUBLIC

0620 PM     TSTM WND DMG     SOUTH PORTLAND          43.64N 70.24W
07/18/2008                   CUMBERLAND         ME   AMATEUR RADIO

            HOUSE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING ON LINCOLN STREET AND WIRES
            DOWN ON EAST STREET

0625 PM     TSTM WND DMG     OXFORD                  44.13N 70.49W
07/18/2008                   OXFORD             ME   AMATEUR RADIO

            NUMEROUS TREES DOWN

0629 PM     TSTM WND DMG     CAPE ELIZABETH          43.56N 70.20W
07/18/2008                   CUMBERLAND         ME   AMATEUR RADIO

            TREES DOWN

0635 PM     TSTM WND DMG     GORHAM                  43.68N 70.44W
07/18/2008                   CUMBERLAND         ME   AMATEUR RADIO

            LARGE TREES DOWN

0635 PM     TSTM WND DMG     SANFORD                 43.44N 70.77W
07/18/2008                   YORK               ME   AMATEUR RADIO

            NUMEROUS TREES DOWN

0640 PM     TSTM WND DMG     SCARBOROUGH             43.58N 70.32W
07/18/2008                   CUMBERLAND         ME   AMATEUR RADIO

            LARGE BRANCHES DOWN

0640 PM     TSTM WND DMG     SANFORD                 43.44N 70.77W
07/18/2008                   YORK               ME   AMATEUR RADIO

            NUMEROUS TREES DOWN

0644 PM     TSTM WND DMG     CAPE ELIZABETH          43.56N 70.20W
07/18/2008                   CUMBERLAND         ME   AMATEUR RADIO

            TREES DOWN ACROSS WIRES ON WINWOOD STREET

&&

TAYLOR

The radar

The Portland,ME radar (KGYX), 100 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

1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Lightning, Rockingham

When: July 18, 6:00 PM EST
Where: Rockingham County, Newington
Property damage: $200,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 43.100, -70.850

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 New Hampshire in 2008 Every state in 2008 This day in weather history Warnings in New Hampshire, July 2008

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: 128950.