Lightning — Burlington, New Jersey

1999-08-14 · near Atsion, Burlington, New Jersey

Wider weather episode

A cluster of thunderstorms that moved through Southern New Jersey during the early morning hours of the 14th was a prolific lightning producer. A 42-year-old man was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He was camping with his girlfriend and her four children when lightning struck and split a 65 foot pitch pine near where they were camping in Wharton State Forest. He was sleeping along the side wall of the tent. Lightning traveled through the ground and struck and killed him instantly. His girlfriend and her four children were treated for minor injuries and a 14-year-old boy in another tent was complaining of tingling. The lightning stroke was very intense, pieces of the pitch pine were dispersed nearly 100 feet.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5717855. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.