Lightning — Escambia, Florida

2001-09-08 · near Pensacola Beach, Escambia, Florida

Event narrative

Two women were killed by lightning near Pensacola Beach at the Fort Pickens State Park. The women were walking side by side on the beach as a thunderstorm moved ashore from the Gulf of Mexico. The storm had not previously been producing much lightning activity, and the women were casually walking to shelter when the bolt struck them. Both women, who were from the local area, were killed instantly.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5268220. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.