Lightning — Pinellas, Florida

2007-07-20 · near Treasure Island, Pinellas, Florida

Event narrative

Lightning struck a 16-year-old boy and his mother who were vacationing at the beach. The bolt hit the boy in the chest, knocking him unconscious and shredding his shorts. The boy was taken to the hospital and died four days later on July 24. The mother also received a jolt and complained of numbness in her feet and radiating pain reaching her chest.

Wider weather episode

A surface pressure ridge axis extended across southern Florida and the west coast sea breeze front was most active from Tampa through Fort Myers.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (27.7700, -82.7700)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 40275. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.