Meteorological Case Studies of Lightning Strike Victims in Colorado

1
Meteorological Case Studies of Lightning Strike
Victims in Colorado

• Stephen Hodanish
• NOAA/NWS Pueblo, CO
• This presentation is part of the Lightning
  Program at National Weather Service, Pueblo
  Colorado

2
Today we are going to talk about this
Hiker struck by lightning while climbing Mt
Lincoln (15 June 2004 ruptured ear drum, 2nd
and 3rd degree burns)
3
Introduction
This talk will discuss the meteorology associated
with 9 lightning strike cases which occurred in
the state of Colorado between 2000 and 2005
KFT
Arvada
X
X
Littleton
Red Cone Pass
X
X
Breckenridge
X
Lake George
Pikes Peak
X
X
Pueblo
X
X
Rocky Ford
Crestone
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Questions I Wanted To Answer

• How much CG lightning was occurring in the
  vicinity prior to the person being struck?
• Few flashes or numerous flashes in the vicinity
  prior to the casualty occurring?
• 1st flash from storm?
• Bolt from the Blue?

5
Questions I Wanted To Answer

• How much CG lightning was occurring in the
  vicinity prior to the person being struck?
• Few flashes or numerous flashes in the vicinity
  prior to the casualty occurring?
• 1st flash from storm?
• Bolts from the blue?
• Distance between flash which caused casualty and
  flashes prior
• Did people have a chance to seek safe shelter, or
  were they in a location where no safe shelter
  could be found?
• What was the intensity of the rain in the
  vicinity prior to the person being struck?
• How fast was the storm moving?

6
Forensic Lightning Studies or, Which Flash
Caused the Casualty?

• 2 important things I needed to know
• LOCATION
• Where was the victim struck?
• Typically this was well known (GPS), News Media
• TIME
• What time the victim was struck?
• Not so easy, narrowed down by
• 911 call registry
• News Media

7
Data Analysis

• In this study, Cloud to Ground (CG) lightning
  from the Vaisala National Lightning Detection
  Network, and National Weather Service Composite
  Reflectivity (CR) radar data were analyzed
• CR radar scan times - 5 or 6 minutes
• Lightning data occurred during the time of the
  composite reflectivity image
• Radar stamp denotes the time the volume scan
  began (red circle)
• Note all times are in UTC (Zulu)
• UTC Local Time 6 hours
• Most radar plots in this presentation show
  precipitation/lightning over a 400 square mile
  area (20 x 20mi).

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24 August 2003 Lake George

• Casualty/Location Time of Event
  NLDN/Radar Summary

59 Year old male, riding motorcycle, fatally
wounded just east of Lake George, Colorado.
N
C Delorme
Motorcyclist was traveling eastbound on highway
24

Location of cyclist came to rest
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24 August 2003 Lake George

• Casualty/Location Time of Event
  NLDN/Radar Summary

59 Year old male, riding motorcycle, fatally
wounded just east of Lake George, Colorado.
N
Cyclist was heading towards photographer in image
above. From Colorado State Patrol accident
records, arrow points to location of where flash
likely occurred.
C Delorme
Motorcyclist was traveling eastbound on highway
24

Location of cyclist came to rest
10
24 August 2003 Lake George

• Casualty/Location Time of Event
  NLDN/Radar Summary

• 911 call received at 2247 UTC
• 2 flashes occurred within ½ mile of where cyclist
  came to rest prior to 2247 UTC

0.55 mi / 0.91 km
224624
224228
224314
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24 August 2003 Lake George

• Casualty/Location Time of Event
  NLDN/Radar Summary

Did cyclist know of lightning threat (how much CG
activity)?
11 km / 7 mi
0.55 mi / 0.91 km
224624
46
42
43
224228
45
224314
44
Highway 24
Park/Teller county line
2242-2247 UTC
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24 August 2003 Lake George

• Casualty/Location Time of Event
  NLDN/Radar Summary

Did cyclist know of lightning threat (how much CG
activity)?
11 km / 7 mi
46
42
43
45
44
Highway 24
Park/Teller county line
2232-2237 UTC
2237-2242 UTC
2242-2247 UTC

• Three 5 minute lightning plot and composite radar
  imagery between 2232 2247 UTC
• 7-10 flashes occurred just south and east of Lake
  George prior to the fatal flash
• Eyewitness in car immediately behind motorcycle
  observed lightning flashes (also witnessed flash
  which caused fatality). Witness also noted heavy
  rain was falling at time of flash

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24 August 2003 Lake George
Casualty/Location Time of Event
NLDN/Radar Summary

• Based on lightning plots, radar imagery and
  eyewitness account, motorcyclist likely knew of
  lightning threat.
• Sadly, cyclist drove past Lake George (1.5 miles
  back to his west). A couple of convenience stores
  are located in Lake George, and he could of
  stopped there and waited out the storm.
  (Eyewitness reported it was raining heavily at
  the time of the strike).
• This case is an example of either
• Lack of understanding the threat (Did the cyclist
  understand that he could be struck by lightning?)
• Poor judgment

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27 July 2003 - Crestone

• Casualty/Location Time of Event
  NLDN/Radar Summary

• 25 year old female struck and killed while coming
  down Willow Creek Trail near Crestone, Colorado.
• Husband was with her, but was not injured by
  flash.
• According to rescue officials, the couple was
  located at mid slope in heavy timber when the
  flash occurred.

C Delorme
15
27 July 2003 - Crestone

• Casualty/Location Time of Event
  NLDN/Radar Summary

• Time of incident estimated from husbands watch
• Flash caused watch to stop at 2235 UTC

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27 July 2003 - Crestone

• Casualty/Location Time of Event
  NLDN/Radar Summary

30 minute NLDN/Radar loop (2211 - 2241
UTC) Fatal flash occurred 2236 UTC (small
yellow circle in center of radar image)
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27 July 2003 - Crestone

• Casualty/Location Time of Event
  NLDN/Radar Summary

Radar/Lightning data indicated these hikers
really did not have a chance to get to safety in
time. Numerous CG flashes were noted prior to the
fatal flash. Heavy rain was falling prior to
fatal flash
18
06 September 2005 Rocky Ford

• Casualty/Location Time of Event
  NLDN/Radar Summary

• 36 Year old male fatally wounded on farmstead
• Coroners report indicated victim just finished
  loading hay into pole barn and was returning to
  his vehicle.

Bob Fowler, Otero County Coroner and Author
standing at location where victim was found
19
06 September 2005 Rocky Ford

• Casualty/Location Time of Event
  NLDN/Radar Summary

• Coroners report estimated death around 600 pm
  MDT 06 Sept (0000 Z 07 Sept).
• Body was not found until 1130 pm (0530 UTC)
• Time of fatality estimated from time on watch
  (557 PM ) and report of loud thunderclap on
  farmstead around 600 PM

20
06 September 2005 Rocky Ford

• Casualty/Location Time of Event
  NLDN/Radar Summary

31 minute NLDN/Radar loop (2339 - 0010
UTC) Fatality likely occurred at 0006 UTC
(yellow circle)
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06 September 2005 Rocky Ford

• Casualty/Location Time of Event
  NLDN/Radar Summary

• Fatal flash likely occurred at 0006 UTC
• Storm was producing infrequent CG activity
• 5 flashes in 25 minutes
• Heavier rain had just ended
• Did he start to run for car after rain was
  letting up??

22
01 August 2004 - Breckenridge

• Casualty/Location Time of Event
  NLDN/Radar Summary

• 28 year old female struck and killed while hiking
  along French Gulch Trail just east of
  Breckenridge, Colorado.
• 2 others were walking by her side when she was
  hit, but they did not receive any known
  electrical injuries which required medical
  treatment (one female received a broken wrist
  when she was knocked to the ground by the flash.

x
C Delorme
Photo courtesy Joanne Richardson, Summit County
Coroner
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01 August 2004 - Breckenridge

• Casualty/Location Time of Event
  NLDN/Radar Summary

• Time of incident in this case is not exact.
• All 3 victims where knocked to the ground. Two
  which survived were believed to be unconscious
  for a brief period of time (10 minutes?)
• Once recovering consciousness, tried CPR on
  victim for 5-10 minutes
• One victim eventually ran for help took 10
  minutes to find a house to dial 911
• 911 call made at 2119 UTC

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01 August 2004 - Breckenridge

• Casualty/Location Time of Event
  NLDN/Radar Summary

41 minute NLDN/Radar loop (2011 - 2052
UTC) Fatality likely occurred at 2038 UTC (red
circle) 911 call made at 2119 UTC
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01 August 2004 - Breckenridge

• Casualty/Location Time of Event
  NLDN/Radar Summary

• Hikers heard thunder in the distance, turned
  around and attempted to return to their vehicle
• Although they were heading back towards their
  vehicle, they didnt believe storm was a real
  threat
• One of the members commented that she has been in
  worse storms then this

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29 May 2004 - Littleton

• Casualty/Location Time of Event
  NLDN/Radar Summary

• 43 Year old male fatally wounded by a flash while
  golfing at Meadows Golf course in Littleton, CO
• Son also injured
• 2 others knocked down by flash, but not injured

27
29 May 2004 - Littleton

• Casualty/Location Time of Event
  NLDN/Radar Summary

• Fatal flash occurred at 184240 UTC

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29 May 2004 - Littleton

• Casualty/Location Time of Event
  NLDN/Radar Summary

30 minute NLDN/Radar loop (1813 -1843
UTC) Fatality occurred at 1842 UTC (red circle)
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29 May 2004 - Littleton

• Casualty/Location Time of Event
  NLDN/Radar Summary

• Storm which produced flash was a small convective
  cell
• No lightning 30 minutes prior to event
• This is a case of a first flash of the storm
  producing a fatality
• Event occurred relatively early in the day (1242
  local time)
• Numerous small showers through time period

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24 July 2003 Red Cone Pass

• Casualty/Location Time of Event
  NLDN/Radar Summary

• Young male struck and injured in the vicinity of
  Red Cone Pass.
• Located on Continental Divide southeast of
  Keystone, Colorado

C Delorme
31
24 July 2003 Red Cone Pass

• Casualty/Location Time of Event
  NLDN/Radar Summary

• Report received of Lightning strike victim on top
  of Red Cone pass at 2130 UTC (330 MDT). Exact
  location unknown (no GPS)
• Victim got out of a jeep once they reached the
  summit area and was struck shortly thereafter
• Review of NLDN indicated 2 flashes occurred in
  the vicinity of Red Cone Pass
• 211608 UTC 0.8 km (0.5 mi) of Red Cone Pass
• 212620 UTC 3 km (2 mi) east of Red Cone Pass

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24 July 2003 Red Cone Pass

• Casualty/Location Time of Event
  NLDN/Radar Summary

58 minute NLDN/Radar loop (2037 - 2135 UTC) No
CG activity between 2037 UTC and 2116 UTC (gt35
min). 1st flash at 2116 UTC 2nd flash at 2121
UTC (too far away to NW West of Montezuma) 3rd
flash at 2126 UTC
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24 July 2003 Red Cone Pass

• Casualty/Location Time of Event
  NLDN/Radar Summary

• Report received of lightning flash victim at 2130
  UTC
• If flash at 2116 UTC was flash which caused
  casualty, then this case was an example of the
  first flash of the storm producing a casualty
• If flash at 2126 UTC caused the casualty, then
  this case was an example of infrequent lightning
  activity (only 2 other flashes occurred prior to
  this flash, one at 2116 and 2121 UTC

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07 July 2004 Arvada

• Casualty/Location Time of Event
  NLDN/Radar Summary

• 9 Year old struck at Youth Memorial Sports
  complex in Arvada, CO
• Heart stopped from flash, revived by 2 nearby
  folks who knew CPR

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07 July 2004 Arvada

• Casualty/Location Time of Event
  NLDN/Radar Summary

• Time of flash was 0012 UTC 08 July 2004 (612 MDT
  07 July 2004)

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07 July 2004 Arvada

• Casualty/Location Time of Event
  NLDN/Radar Summary

42 minute NLDN/Radar loop (2334 -0016 UTC)
Flash which caused injury occurred at 0012 UTC
(yellow circle)
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07 July 2004 Arvada

• Casualty/Location Time of Event
  NLDN/Radar Summary

• Storm producing infrequent CG Lightning
• 2 flashes occurred 30 minutes prior to the child
  being struck,
• 1st flash 22 minutes prior
• 2nd flash 5 minutes prior
• Both were 5 miles away (thunder would not arrive
  until 25 seconds after flash)
• Light rain likely occurring at time of flash
  (heavier rain just to south)

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23 June 2005 - Pueblo

• Casualty/Location Time of Event
  NLDN/Radar Summary

• 13 Year old female struck by lightning while
  scrimmaging for a softball game at Pueblo East
  High School

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23 June 2005 - Pueblo

• Casualty/Location Time of Event
  NLDN/Radar Summary

• 911 report received at 0001 UTC 24 June 2005 (601
  pm MDT 23 June)

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23 June 2005 - Pueblo

• Casualty/Location Time of Event
  NLDN/Radar Summary

40 minute NLDN/Radar loop (2326 -0006 UTC) Flash
which caused injury occurred at 0001 UTC (red
circle) Closer examination of radar in this
case
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23 June 2005 - Pueblo

• Casualty/Location Time of Event
  NLDN/Radar Summary

0001
0355s
0145s
0532s
0104s - FATAL
Injury
0427s
0245s
0119s
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23 June 2005 - Pueblo

• Casualty/Location Time of Event
  NLDN/Radar Summary

• Only 10 flashes occurred within 30 minutes of the
  flash which caused the casualty
• All flashes except one were gt5 miles away
• The one flash which lt5 miles away occurred 3.5
  miles to the east-southeast 15 minutes prior.
• Nearest flash prior to the casualty flash
  occurred 2 ½ minutes earlier to the southeast
• Thunder was heard prior to girl being struck,
  lightning was observed in the distance
• Radar indicated light to moderate rain, although
  press reports indicate no rain was occurring

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25 August 2000 - Pikes Peak

• Casualty/Location Time of Event
  NLDN/Radar Summary

• 18 year old male fatally wounded on top of Pikes
  Peak, Colorado
• NOTE This case occurred prior to the WES
  computer system I was not able to overlay
  lightning data with radar data.

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25 August 2000 - Pikes Peak

• Casualty/Location Time of Event
  NLDN/Radar Summary

• Search and Rescue received report of lightning
  flash victim on top of Pikes Peak around 1900 UTC
  25 Aug 2000

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25 August 2000 - Pikes Peak

• Casualty/Location Time of Event
  NLDN/Radar Summary

• 3 Flashes in Colorado between 1800 and 1900 UTC
  on this date
• One of these flashes is located on the top of
  Pikes Peak Flash occurred at 185654 UTC
• No lightning occurred in within 20 miles of Pikes
  Peak between 1900 and 1930 UTC (not shown)

1 Hour Lightning Plot between 18 and 19 UTC
Topo map
46
25 August 2000 - Pikes Peak

• Casualty/Location Time of Event
  NLDN/Radar Summary

• Based on this analysis, this case is an example
  of the first flash from the convective cell
  striking a victim
• According to Search and Rescue, no thunder was
  heard prior to the fatal flash
• 2 other flashes did occur in the region during
  the hour (1800 1900 UTC), but were too far away
  to be heard or seen
• This case was formally published in Weather and
  Forecasting, June 2004

1856 UTC radar imagery, Zero minutes prior to
fatal flash
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Concluding Summary

• Hikers (Crestone and Breckenridge cases)
• These people did not have time to get back to
  safety
• They knew of threat, but did not get back to a
  safe shelter in time
• They were in heavy timber at time of flash
• Did they know to seek shelter away from taller
  trees?
• Pictures from Breckenridge case clearly showed
  very tall trees at the location of the flash
• Better education for hikers needed (especially if
  they get caught on the trail?)
• Both hiking cases the hikers were in the
  immediate vicinity of large tall trees
• Stay away from trees
• Dont hike during afternoon in mountains when
  storms are possible

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Concluding Summary

• Remainder of cases (7)
• Some interesting resultsNearly all of the
  remainder of the cases in this study showed they
  were either hit by the first flash from the
  storm, or the storm was producing infrequent
  lightning (lt 1 flash per minute averaged over a 5
  minute time period).
• Pikes Peak 1st flash
• Arvada Very infrequent CG activity
• Littleton 1st flash
• Red Cone (likely) 1st flash
• Pueblo Infrequent CG activity
• Rocky Ford Infrequent CG activity
• Lake George (motorcycle case) Likely either
  poor judgment or did not understand the threat
  (Lightning activity was infrequent in this case)

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Concluding Summary

• All Cases - RAIN
• Nearly all cases it appears from radar that rain
  was generally light or not raining (but rain very
  close by) during the time of the casualty.
  Exception was Lake George (motorcycle case) and
  Crestone (hiker) case.
• Storm movement Storms did not appear to be
  moving uncharacteristically too fast
• 5 to 15 mph

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Concluding Summary

• Only 9 cases were reviewed
• We will look at more cases as time permits

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Additional Comment

• In some of these cases, the victims who were
  struck were revived with CPR.
• Please take a CPR class.

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Questions?
Acknowledgments Bill Fortune, MIC NWS PUB Paul
Wolyn, SOO NWS PUB Andy Lutz ITO NWS PUB Bob
Glancy WCM NWS BOU Tom Magnuson, WCM NWS PUB Dr
Michael Cherington, St Anthony's Medical
Center/LDC Denver, Ken Cummins, Vaisala Ron
Holle Irv Watson, SOO NWS TLH Steve Goodman,
NASA MSFC Bard Zajac Larry Dunn, El Paso County
Search and Rescue Michael Bratner John Weaver
CIRA/CSU Dan Lindsey, CIRA/CSU Dr Earle
Williams, LL/MIT Mike Norris, Saguache County
Sheriff Sergent Martin Petrik, Colorado State
Patrol Ben Black Danny Haynes Joanne
Richardson, Summit County Coroner Bob Fowler,
Otero County Coroner and Lisa M
Hodanish Special thanks go to those people (who
shall remain anonymous) who were either witnesses
to the lightning strike events, or who were
friends or family of the victims. This talk is
on the net (in text form) Weather.gov/pub/ltg.php

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