{"id":69949,"date":"2026-04-15T23:59:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-15T23:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cimss.ssec.wisc.edu\/satellite-blog\/?p=69949"},"modified":"2026-04-18T14:27:21","modified_gmt":"2026-04-18T14:27:21","slug":"lightning-related-fatality-in-wisconsin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cimss.ssec.wisc.edu\/satellite-blog\/archives\/69949","title":{"rendered":"Lightning-related fatality in Wisconsin"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"1-minute<\/a>

1-minute GOES-19 Infrared (10.3 \u00b5m) images with plots of GLM Flash Points (white dots) and METAR surface reports (cyan), from 2301 UTC on 15 April to 0100 UTC on 16 April [click to play MP4 animation]<\/p><\/div>\n

1-minute Mesoscale Domain Sector GOES-19 (GOES-East)<\/em> Infrared images (above)<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0included plots of 1-minute GLM<\/strong><\/a> Flash Points (which are parallax-corrected to correspond to their surface locations) — and showed an increase in thunderstorm coverage and lightning activity across southeastern Wisconsin late in the day on 15 April 2026<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, one lightning-related fatality occurred south of Pewaukee, Wisconsin around 0043 UTC or 7:43 PM Central Time (Local Storm Report<\/strong><\/a>). A cursor sample of a GLM Flash Point just southeast of Pewaukee (below)<\/em><\/strong> revealed a rather large flash area of 1114 km2<\/sup> at 0041 UTC (7:41 PM Central Time).<\/p>\n

\"GOES-19<\/a>

GOES-19 Infrared (10.3 \u00b5m) image at 0041 UTC on 16 April, with a cursor sample of a GLM Flash Point (white dot) near Pewaukee, Wisconsin [click to enlarge]<\/p><\/div>\n

1-minute GOES-19 Infrared images with contours of ProbSevere LightningCast<\/strong><\/a> probability (below)<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0indicated that the LightningCast probability over Pewaukee was consistently at or above 90% beginning at 0015 UTC<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"1-minute<\/a>

1-minute GOES-19 Infrared (10.3 \u00b5m) images, with an overlay of LightningCast probability contours, from 2340 UTC on 15 April to 0100 UTC on 16 April [click to play MP4 animation]<\/p><\/div>\n

A plot of LightningCast Probability and GOES-19 GLM Flash Count (below)<\/strong><\/em> revealed that the LightningCast Probability was 73% or higher during the 30-minute period preceding a marked increase in GLM Flash Count in the vicinity of Waukesha County Airport (KUES, which is located about 3 miles south of Pewaukee).<\/p>\n

\"Plot<\/a>

Plot of LightningCast Probability and GOES-19 GLM Flash Count in the vicinity of Waukesha Airport (KUES) [click to enlarge]<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n

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This is the first lightning fatality of 2026. Details are scarce right now.The safest place to be during a thunderstorm is in a substantial building with electrical and plumbing in the walls. Fully enclosed metal vehicles also provide protection.When thunder roars, go indoors!<\/p>— National Lightning Safety Council (@lightningsafety.bsky.social)<\/a> 2026-04-16T13:25:15.423Z<\/a><\/blockquote>