Lightning in Washington

Events

106

Deaths

2

Injuries

35

Damage

$3.3 million

• Damaging Winds and Lightning Strike in Washington, May 30, 20201 death · 4 injured · $12,000 · 63 kt wind · 11 eventsA major severe weather event by Pacific Northwest standards occurred over central and northeast Oregon and southeast Washington on May 30th. A powerful upper level storm system moved across the area during the afternoon and evening helping to trigger severe thunderstorms.
• Lightning Strike in Washington, September 15, 19961 death · 1 event14 year old Michael Allen Trumble was struck by lightning while standing under a tree, next to his dirt bike.
• Lightning Strike in Washington, April 16, 19961 death · 1 eventA 15 year old boy was struck by lightning during a brief thunderstorm.
• Debris Flow and Flooding in Washington, May 14 to 23, 2011$4.3 million · 52 kt wind · 8 eventsAn upper level low pressure system moved over the Pacific Northwest. Moist and unstable conditions ahead of the low triggered widespread thunderstorms with heavy rainfall and isolated large hail. This combined with the abundant spring snow-pack and wet ground to cause flooding.
• Tornado and Wildfire in Washington, August 6 to 26, 1997$1.3 million · F0 · 10 events10 head of cattle were killed by lightning
• Lightning Strikes in Washington, August 3, 19992 injured · $650,000 · 3 eventsOver 1000 lightning strikes were recorded in a four hour period. One man was struck by lightning while standing under a tree, and another man while standing in water next to his boat. At its peak the storm knocked out power to about 20,000 customers.
• Lightning Strike in Washington, August 23 to 27, 2000$1.0 million · 1 eventLightning started a large range fire near Mule Dry Creek, which is in Yakima County. This wildfire burned along a broad front to the south of Mabton and Prosser, consuming 77,000 acres of scrubland, forest and agricultural land in both Yakima and Klickitat Counties.
• Flash Flooding and Hail in Washington, June 11 to 30, 1997$502,000 · 1 in hail · 8 eventsFLOODING IN OMAK AND MUDSLIDES ON SR97 IN OMAK
• Tornadoes and Hail in Washington, July 5 to 21, 1997$120,000 · F1 · 13 events1 1/4 inch hail and 70 mph wind from newspaper reports. Boats damaged and vehicles overturned at Lake Conconully
• Tornado and Lightning Strike in Washington, September 6, 2009$200,000 · EF1 · 2 eventsA tornado touched down around 1619 PDT near the southeast corner of Lake Tapps and moved northeast around 36 mph for 16 minutes, lifting off the ground just northeast of Enumclaw. There was also a lightning strike which damaged a home in Auburn.
• Wildfire and Lightning Strikes in Washington, August 3 to 21, 19996 injured · $30,000 · 8 events160 Acre fire 5N of Chelan
• Damaging Winds and Lightning Strike in Washington, July 23, 2019$274,000 · 55 kt wind · 8 eventsDuring the evening of July 23rd, a strong upper level trough triggered thunderstorms in a moist and unstable air mass over northeast Oregon.
• Lightning Strike in Washington, August 3, 1999$150,000 · 1 eventLightning started a fire which damaged a home.
• Lightning Strike in Washington, July 7, 2002$150,000 · 1 eventA direct hit by lightning set a two-story home on Johnson Road ablaze, completely destroying the home and its contents. The family living in the home escaped without injury.
• Lightning Strike in Washington, July 16, 1999$130,000 · 1 eventLightning struck a house and knocked out power to about 8000 homes.
• Lightning Strike in Washington, October 15, 1996$95,000 · 1 eventLightning was the probable cause to a house fire that caused $95,000 in damage.
• Flash Flooding and Hail in Washington, July 3 to 4, 2022$31,000 · 1 in hail · 18 eventsA slow moving low moved through the region over July 3 through July 5. It carried ample moisture and instability to produce several rounds of thunderstorms and heavy rains. The thunderstorms produced hail, high winds, and lightning. The heavy rains created flash flooding.
• Lightning Strike in Washington, July 5, 1997$70,000 · 1 eventLightning started a fire which destroyed a garage.
• Lightning Strike in Washington, June 24, 20075 injured · 1 eventThunderstorms dropped up to 1/2 inch diameter hail and produced lightning. Lightning struck a tree near Sedro Woolley and the current hit 5 people sheltering under a gazebo next to the tree. All five were taken to the hospital.
• Lightning Strike in Washington, September 19, 2010$60,000 · 1 eventAfternoon thunderstorms produced isolated damage.
• Lightning Strike in Washington, December 9, 2010$50,000 · 1 eventA lightning storm knocked two Forks radio stations off the air and damaged some equipment.
• Lightning Strike in Washington, April 10, 1997$35,000 · 1 eventA lightning strike, which hit a house and a tree, peeled the bark off the tree, cracked a concrete patio, broke several windows and damaged electrical outlets and a natural gas line. It also damaged several appliances and parts of the drywall in the house.
• Lightning Strike in Washington, May 18, 2006$35,000 · 1 eventLightning struck a weather vane on top of a barn and sparked a fire that destroyed the barn roof.
• Lightning Strike in Washington, August 2, 2014$30,000 · 1 eventStorms moving through Western Washington brought lightning, heavy rain and hail. Lightning hit trees in the Fremont and Green Lake neighborhoods, in one case sparking a garage fire.
• Lightning Strikes in Washington, August 11, 2001$25,000 · 2 eventsLightning from dry thunderstorms, along with winds which gusted from 20 to 20 mph, started several grass fires within Walla Walla and Columbia Counties. Within Walla Walla, 2 grass fires were started by downed power lines on Southwest Fourth Street and near College Place.

Lightning everywhereEvery kind of event in Washington

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.