Go Back
  • For Business
  • |
  • Warnings
  • Data Suite
  • Newsletters
  • Advertising
  • Superior Accuracy™
32 dead, 27 girls at camp missing after catastrophic flooding in Texas. Read the latest Chevron right
Tropical Storm Chantal forms in Atlantic before landfall in South Carolina. Get details Chevron right

Columbus, OH

91°F
Location Chevron down
Location News Videos
Use Current Location
Recent

Columbus

Ohio

91°
No results found.
Try searching for a city, zip code or point of interest.
settings
Columbus, OH Weather
Today WinterCast Local {stormName} Tracker Hourly Daily Radar MinuteCast Monthly Air Quality Health & Activities

Around the Globe

Hurricane Tracker

Severe Weather

Radar & Maps

News

News & Features

Astronomy

Business

Climate

Health

Recreation

Sports

Travel

For Business

Warnings

Data Suite

Newsletters

Advertising

Superior Accuracy™

Video

Winter Center

AccuWeather Early Hurricane Center Top Stories Trending Today Astronomy Heat Climate Health Recreation In Memoriam Case Studies Blogs & Webinars
Air Quality Alert

News / Weather News

3 struck, injured by lightning in New York City area on Tuesday

By Faith Eherts, AccuWeather meteorologist

Published Aug 8, 2018 3:18 AM EDT | Updated Jul 1, 2019 5:08 PM EDT

Copied

Thunderstorms rolling through the New York City area struck and seriously injured three men on Tuesday.

Two men, aged 30 and 42, were struck by lightning while playing soccer in Flushing Meadows Park in Corona, Queens, around 7:30 p.m. EDT on Aug. 7. Around the same time, a third man was struck in South Jamaica, Queens.

The two men in Corona are in serious condition while the man in South Jamaica suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Radar - NYC area

A lightning strike also started a fire near a Long Island Rail Road substation on Tuesday evening, according to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. CBS New York reported that while service was suspended for some lines, all service has since resumed on a modified schedule.

"Even though lightning fatalities in the United States have been on the decline since records began in the 1940s, lightning continues to be a leading weather-related killer on a national and worldwide basis each year," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.

RELATED:

Lightning kills: Which outdoor activity ranks no. 1 for fatal strikes?
7 lightning safety tips if you’re caught outside during a thunderstorm
Is it safe to talk on your cell phone during a thunderstorm?
Men vs. women: Which gender is more likely to be fatally struck by lightning?

So far this year, there have been 15 reported deaths due to lightning, according to the National Weather Service. Of them, the majority have occurred in Florida, followed by Kentucky, Arkansas, Texas, Missouri, Alabama and Georgia. Twelve of the victims have been male.

People were struck while standing near or under trees, fishing, lingering on the beach and staying out in the open in general.

nyc lightning

The bolt from a lightning storm hits the spire on top of the One World Trade Center tower in New York City, late Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2017. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

"Always move indoors at the first rumble of thunder. If you can hear thunder, you are at risk of being struck by lightning," Sosnowski said.

He also stressed that the safest place to be during a storm is in a home or building with a roof and enclosed walls. Avoid standing near windows and screen doors or on porches and beneath overhangs, and never stand under a tree or a small group of trees.

If hiking, move down the mountainside as quickly as possible. A widespread, thick forested area in a valley is a relatively safe option when hiking or camping when a vehicle is too far away.

Report a Typo

Weather News

Weather News

32 dead in Texas, 27 girls at Camp Mystic missing in flooding

Jul. 5, 2025
video

Rescuers save person clinging to an electric pole amid Texas floods

Jul. 4, 2025
Weather News

Record sargassum seaweed piles up on Caribbean islands, Gulf

Jul. 2, 2025
Weather News

Alabama teen in ICU after lightning strike hits boat, causing burns an...

Jul. 2, 2025
Show more Show less Chevron down

Topics

AccuWeather Early

Hurricane Center

Top Stories

Trending Today

Astronomy

Heat

Climate

Health

Recreation

In Memoriam

Case Studies

Blogs & Webinars

Top Stories

Weather News

32 dead in Texas, 27 girls at Camp Mystic missing in flooding

1 hour ago

Hurricane

Chantal to make landfall in South Carolina Sunday morning

6 hours ago

Severe Weather

Severe weather to rumble in the central US through the holiday weekend

3 hours ago

Severe Weather

Storms kill 3 in New Jersey, knock out power across Northeast

1 day ago

Weather Forecasts

Heat, humidity return to the East

4 hours ago

More Stories

Featured Stories

Weather News

Wildfires are tearing through a popular tourist hotspot in Greece

1 day ago

Weather News

‘Shark Whisperer’ swims its way into our shark obsession

1 day ago

Travel

Fourth of July gas hasn’t been this cheap since 2021

4 days ago

Weather News

What makes fireworks burst with vibrant colors?

1 day ago

Health

There is no safe amount of processed meat to eat, new research shows

2 days ago

AccuWeather Weather News 3 struck, injured by lightning in New York City area on Tuesday
Company
Proven Superior Accuracy About AccuWeather Digital Advertising Careers Press Contact Us
Products & Services
For Business For Partners For Advertising AccuWeather APIs AccuWeather Connect RealFeel® and RealFeel Shade™ Personal Weather Stations
Apps & Downloads
iPhone App Android App See all Apps & Downloads
Subscription Services
AccuWeather Premium AccuWeather Professional
More
AccuWeather Ready Business Health Hurricane Leisure and Recreation Severe Weather Space and Astronomy Sports Travel Weather News Winter Center
Company
Proven Superior Accuracy About AccuWeather Digital Advertising Careers Press Contact Us
Products & Services
For Business For Partners For Advertising AccuWeather APIs AccuWeather Connect RealFeel® and RealFeel Shade™ Personal Weather Stations
Apps & Downloads
iPhone App Android App See all Apps & Downloads
Subscription Services
AccuWeather Premium AccuWeather Professional
More
AccuWeather Ready Business Health Hurricane Leisure and Recreation Severe Weather Space and Astronomy Sports Travel Weather News Winter Center
© 2025 AccuWeather, Inc. "AccuWeather" and sun design are registered trademarks of AccuWeather, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | About Your Privacy Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

...

...

...