Lightning struck and killed a 24 year-old man while he was working on a roof in Volusia County, causing him to fall off of the roof.
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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 MLB wrote it up.
Lightning struck and killed a 24 year-old man while he was working on a roof in Volusia County, causing him to fall off of the roof.
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 Melbourne, FL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 22, 8:59 AM EST, 3 hours 57 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Melbourne FL 959 AM EDT Mon May 22 2023 .DISCUSSION... ...A Few Strong to Marginally Severe Storms This Afternoon... Current-Tonight...A weak pressure pattern remains across the peninsula this morning. Light/variable morning winds will become ERLY along the coast with trend continuing inland during the day as the ECSB ventures westward. A quasi-stationary frontal boundary continues across the Deep South and north FL as PWATs pool to 1.80- 2.00 inches along and south of it across ECFL. Surface heating and deep moisture will encourage an increase in clouds heading thru the afternoon. Zonal flow aloft with embedded pieces of energy will traverse the north/central peninsula this afternoon and evening aiding a higher coverage of convection. 500 mb temps will be cooler today between -8C and -10C. We can expect to see another sea breeze collision late today with highest coverage/strongest intensity of storms over the interior continuing into early this evening. Lowest PoPs near 50pct along the immediate St. Lucie/Martin coasts, trending up to 60-70pct from Indian River-Brevard-Volusia counties. Interior locales are forecast for 80-90pct, mainly for this afternoon thru sunset. Storm steering flow is light W/NW, but may also see some erratic movement, especially from stronger boundary collisions late today. Expect shower/storm initiation from late morning into early afternoon with both coverage and intensity increasing thru late afternoon-early evening. Some activity will drift back toward the coast. Strongest storm impacts continue to be frequent lightning strikes, torrential rainfall leading to minor or nuisance flooding, especially if multiple rounds are received, hail to quarter-size, and gusty winds of 45 to 55 mph - with a storm or two possibly severe with winds to 60 mph. Highs today in the L80s across the Volusia/north Brevard coasts and generally M-U80s elsewhere; except perhaps near 90 degrees over the interior south of Kissimmee if enough sun can be found ahead of increasing cloud-cover. Convective activity will gradually diminish thru late evening, with some overnight potential continuing across Volusia/north Brevard counties. Overnight lows generally in the 60s to L70s. && .MARINE...Today-Tonight...Higher coverage of shower and storms developing over the local waters through the day and tonight, especially north of Sebastian Inlet. Light/variable morning winds will transition onshore with sea breeze formation. Speeds generally 6-12 kts. Seas 2-3 ft, building to 3-4 ft late today offshore and up to 5 ft well offshore Volusia coast overnight. Winds/seas locally higher invof of storms. Other storm threats include frequent cloud- to-water lightning strikes, small hail, torrential downpours, and gusty winds in excess of 35 kts. Some activity may be offshore moving. && .AVIATION...Unsettled weather pattern beginning today and continuing thru the week with above normal convective chances. Early initiation expected along the Volusia coast this morning. Sea breeze will develop today and march inland and expect a larger collision of boundaries again this evening. A storm or two may become marginally severe. Threats to aviation include frequent lightning strikes, hail to quarter-size in a storm or two, torrential downpours, and gusty winds of 35 to 45 kts in strongest storms; perhaps one or two above 50 kts. Else L/V morning winds becoming onshore with sea breeze passage late this morning and afternoon. Convection slowly diminishing thru late evening, but may see some continued showers and isolated storm chances across Volusia/north Brevard counties. "Vicinity" and "Tempo" wording in TAFs as necessary with MVFR (local IFR) in heaviest convective activity. VFR outside of showers/storms. && .MLB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...None. AM...None. && Sedlock/Law
Hazardous Weather Outlook...Updated National Weather Service Melbourne FL 1015 AM EDT Mon May 22 2023 AMZ550-552-555-570-572-575-FLZ041-044>046-053-058-141-144-154-159- 164-247-254-259-264-347-447-547-647-747-230000- Flagler Beach to Volusia-Brevard County Line 0-20 nm-Volusia- Brevard County Line to Sebastian Inlet 0-20 nm- Sebastian Inlet to Jupiter Inlet 0-20 nm-Flagler Beach to Volusia- Brevard County Line 20-60 nm-Volusia- Brevard County Line to Sebastian Inlet 20-60 nm- Sebastian Inlet to Jupiter Inlet 20-60 nm-Inland Volusia- Northern Lake-Orange-Seminole-Osceola-Okeechobee-Coastal Volusia- Southern Lake-Coastal Indian River-Coastal Saint Lucie- Coastal Martin-Inland Northern Brevard-Inland Indian River- Inland Saint Lucie-Inland Martin-Mainland Northern Brevard- Northern Brevard Barrier Islands-Inland Southern Brevard- Mainland Southern Brevard-Southern Brevard Barrier Islands- 1015 AM EDT Mon May 22 2023 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. .THUNDERSTORM IMPACT... A disturbance across the Southeast, an increase in moisture, along with the east and west coast sea breezes, will spark numerous showers and lightning storms today. The greatest chance for stronger storms is this afternoon and early evening, first over interior of east central Florida before potentially affecting coastal communities this evening as some activity drifts back toward the coast. Besides torrential rainfall and frequent cloud-to-ground lightning strikes, a couple of the storms could become severe, with wind gusts approaching 60 miles per hour. Small hail is in play and a storm or two could contain hail to quarter-size. .FLOOD IMPACT... Where repeated rounds of thunderstorms occur, localized rain amounts up to 4 inches in a short time are possible. This could lead to flooding of low-lying areas. If you encounter flooding, remember: turn around, don't drown. .RIP CURRENT IMPACT... A Moderate risk of life-threatening rip currents continues at all central Florida Atlantic coast beaches. Check with your local beach patrol for additional information about ocean hazards. Remember to swim only within sight of a lifeguard, and never enter the ocean alone. .MARINE THUNDERSTORM GUST IMPACT... Wind gusts over 35 knots from the strongest storms will affect inland lakes, intracoastal waterways, and the near shore Atlantic waters today. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. A series of disturbances will keep central Florida weather unsettled for much of the work-week. Copious amounts of moisture will remain in place, and weak low pressure may form close to Florida by the middle of the week. As a result, numerous showers and lightning storms are forecast. The strongest storms will be capable of producing frequent cloud-to-ground lightning strikes, gusty winds from 40 to 50 mph, and hail to quarter-size. Locations that see repeated rounds of heavy rain will experience localized flooding this week. A Moderate risk of dangerous rip currents is expected to continue at all central Florida Atlantic beaches this week. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters should monitor the weather and self activate if needed. Sedlock
The Melbourne radar (KMLB), 105 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:56 UTC.
1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
A 24 year-old man was working on the roof of a home on Sterling Pointe Drive in Deltona when coworkers reported he was struck by lightning, causing him to fall off of the roof. He was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. Time estimated via lightning data.
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, Volusia | 2023-05-22 | 24 | Male | Long Span Roof | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Florida in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Florida, May 2023
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: 1089593.