Overview

• Two victims were hospitalized after Saturday night’s strike, with one in critical condition and another treated for minor injuries while a third declined medical transport.
• St. Johns County Fire Rescue closed the pier to inspect for structural damage and expects to reopen it on Monday.
• Mayor Dylan Rumrell urged residents and visitors to seek shelter when thunder is heard, noting that storms can intensify without warning.
• WESH-TV2 meteorologist Tony Mainolfi reported over 20,000 lightning strikes across Central Florida in the past 24 hours, highlighting the region’s volatile summer weather.
• The National Weather Service has recorded six lightning fatalities in the U.S. so far this year, compared with a decade-long annual average of 20 deaths.