Lightning — Belknap, New Hampshire

2013-06-24 · near West Alton, Belknap, New Hampshire

Event narrative

A lightning strike injured 29 scouts and 1 leader at Camp Bell Boy Scout Camp on Griswold Scout Reservation near Gilmanton. All the Scouts were transported to a local hospital and were treated for burns, ranging from minor to serious. Several of the scouts were retained overnight for observation and treatment. The Scouts had taken shelter under a tarp strung between trees when lightning struck a tall pine tree about 30 feet away. The current traveled through the ground to the scouts who were sitting around a table on metal chairs.

Wider weather episode

A hot and humid airmass was in place over the forecast area on the afternoon of June 24th. Convection developed early in the afternoon over eastern New York and western New England and shifted east into the favorable environment across New Hampshire and western Maine through the evening hours. Very weak shear and high precipitable water resulted in pulse type convection with large hail and wet microbursts the main threats. Thirty people were injured by lightning at a Boy Scout Camp near Gilmanton.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (43.4889, -71.3451)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 465128. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.