Lightning — Mayes, Oklahoma

2023-08-05 · near Spavinaw, Mayes, Oklahoma

Event narrative

Lightning struck and injured four girls who were swimming. All of the girls were taken to local hospitals. One of the girls died from her injuries on August 7th.

Wider weather episode

Strong to severe thunderstorms developed over southwestern Kansas during the evening of the 4th. These thunderstorms moved east and southeast across northern Oklahoma and into northeastern Oklahoma during the early morning hours of the 5th. The strongest storms produced hail up to penny size and damaging wind gusts across portions of northeastern Oklahoma.

Scattered thunderstorms continued across northeastern Oklahoma through much of the morning. Lightning from one of these thunderstorms struck four teenage girls at a swimming hole in eastern Mayes County. All four girls were taken to the hospital with injuries, and one of the girls later died from her injuries.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (36.3026, -95.0472)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1135188. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.