Lightning in Essex County, Massachusetts

Two women were struck by lightning while walking towards the parking lot from the beach at Crane's Beach in Ipswich. One was a 61 year old woman from Connecticut, the other a 69 year old woman from Massachusetts. Both went into cardiac arrest and were given CPR before being transported to Beverly Hospital and then to Massachusetts General Hospital's burn unit. The 61 year old woman died of her injuries the evening of September 6th. The 69 year old succumbed to her injuries a week later on September 13th.

An approaching cold front provided enough lift in a rather unstable environment to produce showers and thunderstorms across southern New England. Many of these storms produced strong to damaging winds.