Lightning in Florida

Events

1,777

Deaths

178

Injuries

1,002

Damage

$112 million

• Tornadoes and Hail in Florida, March 7, 20082 deaths · 6 injured · $4.0 million · EF2 · 16 eventsA squall line with severe weather and several tornadoes moved across north Florida and southeast Georgia.
• Lightning Strike in Florida, August 17, 19962 deaths · 6 injured · 1 eventTwo persons were killed and six injured by a single lightning strike while picnicing at Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Recreation Area.
• Lightning Strike in Florida, July 4, 20091 death · 26 injured · 1 eventHigh pressure ridging across the area allowed for scattered afternoon thunderstorms to develop along sea breeze and outflow boundaries.
• Lightning Strike in Florida, March 29, 20012 deaths · $50,000 · 1 eventA fire inspector for the State Fire Marshal's office determined that lightning lightning struck and ignited a fire at a group home on the 3400 block of Drance Street in Charlotte Harbor.
• Lightning Strike and Heavy Rain in Florida, August 5 to 6, 20122 deaths · 10 eventsThunderstorms associated with a westward moving tropical wave developed during the day. Two people on Shell Island were struck by lightning, resulting in one death and one injury. There was also some minor street flooding around Tallahassee due to heavy rain.
• Lightning Strike in Florida, August 18, 20052 deaths · 1 injured · 1 eventLightning from a fast-moving thundertstorm killed two Fort Myers roofers and injured a third as they were getting ready to go home for the day.
• Damaging Wind and Lightning Strikes in Florida, May 14, 20142 deaths · $2,000 · 3 eventsSub-severe thunderstorms formed across the peninsula during the early afternoon hours. They produced numerous cloud-to-ground lightning strikes across the area, with two separate lightning fatalities reported. Additionally, thunderstorm wind damage was reported to a carport.
• Lightning Strike in Florida, July 6, 19982 deaths · 1 eventTwo men were killed, aged 43 and 37, while standing under a tree that was struck by lightning at the Huntington Hills Golf Club in North Lakeland. The lightning strike occurred near a grove of eight trees near the 12th hole of the golf course.
• Lightning Strike in Florida, August 16, 19982 deaths · 1 eventTwo men were struck and killed by lightning while fishing from a canoe in Lake Mack in Orlando.
• Lightning Strike in Florida, June 8, 20002 deaths · 1 eventTwo boys who were swimming in a community pool, died when lightning struck nearby, shocking them unconscious and causing them to drown.
• Lightning Strike in Florida, September 8, 20012 deaths · 1 eventTwo women were killed by lightning near Pensacola Beach at the Fort Pickens State Park. The women were walking side by side on the beach as a thunderstorm moved ashore from the Gulf of Mexico.
• Lightning Strike in Florida, June 21, 20082 deaths · 1 eventTwo men died when lightning struck their fishing boat on Choctwahatchee Bay.
• Lightning Strike in Florida, September 15, 20222 deaths · 1 eventA 13 year-old boy and an 11 year-old boy were killed when lightning struck or nearly struck the crew boat that they were in, causing it to capsize on Lake Fairview in Orange County. Three other boys were able to make it to shore and survived.
• Lightning Strike in Florida, September 22, 20252 deaths · 1 eventTwo men were were reportedly killed by an afternoon lightning strike in far southern Highlands County.
• Lightning Strikes in Florida, September 2, 20131 death · 2 injured · $2.0 million · 4 eventsA moist and unstable airmass produced scattered afternoon thunderstorms.
• Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in Florida, March 30 to 31, 20117 injured · $6.1 million · EF1 · 47 eventsA stalled frontal boundary was in place across central Florida. As the boundary began to lift north drawing in abundant warm moist air over the area, an upper level disturbance moved over the area and a squall line developed and quickly moved across the northern half of the…
• Tornadoes and Hail in Florida, April 25 to 27, 20232 injured · $1.3 million · EF2 · 37 eventsA strong spring storm system moved through the area with ample instability and shear for severe weather. Numerous reports of severe weather were received across the tri-state area.
• Damaging Winds and Lightning Strikes in Florida, August 1 to 11, 19991 death · 1 injured · $375,000 · 4 eventsBay County EMA reported straight-line winds downed numerous trees and power lines. A shed was destroyed. Two convenience stores suffered roof damage. Several vehicles and carports were damaged.
• Lightning Strike in Florida, April 18, 19961 death · 10 injured · 1 eventEleven military personnel were working on an aircraft on Hurlburt Field when lightning either struck the aircraft or near the aircraft. One of the airmen was killed and ten others were injured.
• Lightning Strikes in Florida, August 14 to 17, 20161 death · $400,000 · 2 eventsLate evening thunderstorms across the area produced widespread lightning across Lee, Sarasota counties, and Pinellas County. Lightning struck a 22-year-old man on a jet ski near the border of Englewood and Venice.
• Lightning Strikes in Florida, July 15 to 16, 20141 death · 1 injured · $225,000 · 5 eventsAn upper level disturbance crossing Florida led to scattered to numerous thunderstorms coming off the Gulf of Mexico and onto the Florida Peninsula through much of the 15th, and continuing overnight and through much of the 16th.
• Lightning Strike in Florida, August 13, 20121 death · $385,000 · 1 eventSeabreeze thunderstorms moved through west central Florida during the early afternoon. One thunderstorm started a fire at an apartment building, that destroyed the structure and killed one resident.
• Damaging Winds and Lightning Strike in Florida, July 4, 20231 death · 3 injured · $41,000 · 50 kt wind · 6 eventsSW steering flow pushed the dominant west coast sea breeze inland with a merger between the Highway 301 and St. Johns River basin during the evening. A moist and unstable airmass near the collision produced a few strong to pulse severe storms.
• Damaging Winds and Lightning Strikes in Florida, June 22 to 24, 20081 death · 3 injured · $41,000 · 56 kt wind · 5 eventsSurface high pressure remained in place across southern Florida with west to southwest winds aloft. Afternoon sea breezes developed each day and thunderstorms formed along sea breeze and outflow boundaries.
• Damaging Wind and Lightning Strike in Florida, July 21, 20191 death · 7 injured · 50 kt wind · 2 eventsAfternoon thunderstorms produced localized gusty winds across Citrus County knocking down trees in the area. Additionally, 8 people on Clearwater Beach were struck by lightning by a developing thunderstorm.

Lightning everywhereEvery kind of event in Florida

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.