Lightning — Teton, Wyoming

2010-07-21 · near Jenny Lake, Teton, Wyoming

Event narrative

Lightning struck Grand Teton mountain in Grand Teton National Park injuring 17 climbers that were among three separate private climbing parties. One of the injured ultimately fell 2,000 feet to his death as an indirect result of the lightning strike. The climbers were all above 13,000 feet MSL when the lightning storm hit about 1100MST. Helicopters ferried National Park Service rangers to the famed mountain to rescue the injured climbers and search for the body of the deceased. Moderate to severe injuries, ranging from burns to numbness, were suffered by the surviving climbers. The rescue involved the efforts of 83 people.

Wider weather episode

Midday thunderstorms peppered Grand Teton mountain with lightning causing 17 injuries.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (43.7408, -110.8025)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 235773. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.