Lightning — Ocean, New Jersey

1998-05-03 · near Whiting, Ocean, New Jersey

Wider weather episode

Lightning apparently struck a tree, traveled along the saturated ground, entered a tent and killed a 22-year-old National Guardsman during a routine artillery training weekend at McGuire Air Force Base. The lightning also injured five others, two critcially and one seriously. A medic was also injured while trying to help the injured. They were all members of the Third Battalion Battery B, 112th Field Artillery and among 7,300 Army Reserve and National Guard Troops involved in weekend training. The soldiers were in their sleeping bags within the tents when the lightning apparently struck the pine tree.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5660079. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.