Lightning — Bucks, Pennsylvania

2019-08-18 · near Trevose, Bucks, Pennsylvania

Event narrative

Lightning struck a tree causing a branch to fall onto an occupied tent and the Dolphin Swim Club. 9 occupants were injured and the tent was destroyed by the fallen limb. Time estimated from radar.

Wider weather episode

A frontal boundary stalled over southern New York and far southern New England on August 18. To its south, southerly flow advected warm and moist air into the mid-Atlantic. Strong instability developed with the heating of the day. The strong instability combined with limited forcing and shear created a favorable environment for pulsing thunderstorms. Some storms became strong to severe with damaging winds being the primary impact.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (40.1700, -75.0000)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 851931. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.