Lightning — Garfield, Utah

2011-08-18 · near Bryce Canyon, Garfield, Utah

Event narrative

A 51-year-old German tourist in Bryce Canyon National Park was hiking with his family along the Rim Trail near Sunset Point, when an isolated thunderstorm moved into the area. Most of the family ran toward their car, but the man sought refuge under a large Ponderosa Pine. A bolt of lightning stuck the tree, with some of the energy being transferred to the man, and he died at the scene.

Wider weather episode

The flash flooding threat began again in the middle of the month, with the largest flash floods in Capitol Reef National Park and along the Escalante River. Isolated large hail was reported with a couple of storms, and cloud-to-ground lightning struck a couple individuals.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (37.6249, -112.1668)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 345039. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.