Lightning — Fayette, West Virginia

2003-03-13 · near Mt Hope, Fayette, West Virginia

Event narrative

Lightning entered the second floor of the Mount Hope Middle School. Luckily, it was after most students had already gone home for the day. However, there were 30 to 40 students in the building for after school programs. Eight children were slightly injured. There were a few flash burns to the eyes, while other students were hurt by flying glass. The school is located on a knoll or relatively high ground. Apparently, the lightning was attracted to the 2nd floor of the 3 story building by a set of outside wires. These wire ran through a nearby tree. The wires were fried. The lightning entered the principal's office, a bathroom, and one classroom. According to the Fayette County School Board, the electrical surge destroyed 2 computer systems with 27 monitors. Five television sets and 2 video cassette recorders were also destroyed. About a dozen windows were broken. In addition, there were broken water pipes, which caused flooding in 2 rooms. The school was closed on the 14th, as the facility was checked-out and repaired.The quick moving showers, and embedded thunderstorms, formed along a cold front. Ironically, there were only a few strokes of lightning associated with this narrow line of precipitation.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5340697. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.