Lightning — Putnam, Florida

2023-09-26 · near Bostwick, Putnam, Florida

Event narrative

A 16-year-old female died of her injuries after being struck by lightning while hunting with her father near Bostwick. Both were sheltering under a tree when storms approached. Lightning struck the tree, knocking both unconscious. The teen was hospitalized, but she passed away 2 days later.

Wider weather episode

A weak surface front was near the FL-GA state-line with moist, unstable conditions south of the boundary across NE FL. Diurnally enhanced storms further intensified into the afternoon and early evening as a short-wave trough moved across the area from the west. Storm motion was slow, so locally heavy rainfall was a concern near storm mergers.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (29.7700, -81.6300)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1130553. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.