Lightning in Pinellas County, Florida

County dispatch relayed report of 4 individuals that were struck by lightning and injured while standing under a tree near downtown St. Petersburg around 5:45 pm local time. Ensuing reports detailed that all 4 individuals were teenagers, 2 females and 1 male aged 16 along with a 17 year old male, and that one of the 16 year old girls had gone into cardiac arrest. Paramedics arriving on scene were able to restore the girl's pulse before taking her to Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital in St. Petersburg, along with one of the males that had received burns, and all 4 of the individuals were ultimately taken to Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital for treatment and monitoring. Unfortunately, the 16 year old girl that had to be resuscitated on scene later succumbed to her injuries on August 19.

Lightning from afternoon thunderstorms associated with the sea breeze causes 1 fatality and 3 injuries near St Petersburg in Pinellas County, and a structure fire near Palmetto in Manatee County.