Lightning — Oscoda, Michigan

2011-07-23 · near Red Oak, Oscoda, Michigan

Event narrative

A family was on a tubing outing on the Au Sable River. A thunderstorm rapidly developed, and they attempted to exit the river and find shelter. They were just out of the river, when three individuals were struck by lightning. Two women were pronounced dead at the scene. A man was transported to a hospital in Saginaw in critical condition. He would survive, but require a 10-day hospital stay, and considerable physical therapy after that. The survivor had no recollection of the incident.

Wider weather episode

Thunderstorms developed over North Central and Northeast Lower Michigan, thanks to a humid and unstable airmass.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (44.6816, -84.2789)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 335418. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.