Lightning — Fulton, Georgia

2007-08-26 · near Alpharetta, Fulton, Georgia

Event narrative

The Alpharetta Fire & Rescue Department reported that a 15-year old male was killed from a lightning strike. The individual was riding his bicycle with a group of friends in a parking lot at an apartment complex in the vicinity of 500 Governor's Circle. The group attempted to seek shelter from the thunderstorm under a gazebo. However, the victim was unable to seek shelter before the incident occurred. He was found unconscious in the parking lot next to his bicycle and was pronounced dead at North Fulton Regional Hospital.

Wider weather episode

A weak cold front was approaching the area from the northwest as the upper ridge, which had persisted over the area much of the month, retreated back to the west and a weak trough of low pressure developed over the eastern U.S. As with previous days, thunderstorms developed rapidly during the mid-afternoon and quickly moved south. However, the activity was in general less numerous and less intense than on previous days. The main problem this day was cloud-to-ground lightning and gusty winds.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (34.0700, -84.3000)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 58411. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.