Lightning in Rockingham County, North Carolina

Lightning May 21, 2026 · Rockingham County, North Carolina

$5K

Damage as recorded

Where the report was made, with tornadoes recorded within 15 miles over the years.

What the National Weather Service wrote

Lightning struck a church steeple, setting it on fire.

The wider storm

A cold front attendant to a southern Canada low pressure center moved slowly through northwest North Carolina, causing showers and storms to form. Bulk shear of around 30kts in the North Carolina High Country encouraged some isolated severe thunderstorms to form during the afternoon of May 21st.

Began near Spray (36.5200, -79.7700).

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event 1332007. Narratives are written by the National Weather Service forecast office that issued the report.

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