Lightning — Monroe, Pennsylvania

2008-06-14 · near Tobyhanna, Monroe, Pennsylvania

Event narrative

Lightning struck a group of swimmers and killed a 17-year-old male in the water at Gouldsboro State Park in Coolbaugh Township. The 17-year-old male and a 24-year-old male were in the water when lightning struck. Two juvenile female companions were along the shore and were knocked to the ground. The ladies were treated at the scene. The 24-year-old male suffered non life threatening injuries, but was briefly hospitalized.

Wider weather episode

A slow moving cold front helped trigger scattered showers and thunderstorns across eastern Pennsylvania during the afternoon and evening of the 14th. Because of the hot and humid air mass preceding this front, some of the storms became severe.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (41.2271, -75.4563)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 117762. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.