Lightning — Union, New Jersey

2025-08-13 · near Elizabeth, Union, New Jersey

Event narrative

Lightning struck the tail of a parked plane at Newark Liberty International Airport.

Wider weather episode

Although shear was overall weak, lift from an approaching pre-frontal trough and upper level trough combined with 1000-2000 J/kg of MLCAPE was enough for a few severe thunderstorms to develop and produce damaging wind gusts.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (40.6900, -74.1800)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1291861. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.