Strong Storms Push Over Yankee Stadium Last Night! (credit: MLB.TV/YES Network and GR-2 Analyst)

DISCUSSION: As the leading edge of energy from a weak low-pressure system approach the tri-state area yesterday evening, a combination of sufficient convective instability as well as increased moisture helped trigger strong thunderstorms over parts of Eastern Pennsylvania, Northern New Jersey, and Southeastern New York.  Despite many of the storms being fairly disorganized, they still packed quite a punch as they roared through parts of the New York metro area.  As seen in the images attached below, you can denote the photogenic multi-channel lightning strike which occurred over the left-field grandstand of Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York just after 9:00 P.M. EDT last night.  In addition, the second image captured a screenshot of Doppler Reflectivity from the radar site in Upton, New York at the same time.  

You can denote how in the attached radar image there was a fairly strong embedded cell within the approaching thunderstorm segment which moved directly over the Bronx and specifically over Yankee Stadium as indicated by the pictographic evidence.  As emphasized by initiatives from the National Weather Service, whenever thunder roars you should always head indoors.  However, as in many cases, during sporting events this often does not happen which left many people at risk (especially due to them being positioned at a higher elevation within the stadium).  Having said that, it is important to remain more cautious than thrill-seeking when observing thunderstorms.  Nonetheless, an amazing sight was had by everyone in attendance at Yankee Stadium yesterday evening.

Within the lighting strike itself, you can clearly see several individual channels which branched off of the primary lightning strike which was likely due to the complex charging of the clouds associated with the approaching thunderstorm.  This certainly was a classic case of a conventional Summer-time convective event which produced pulse-like thunderstorm effects on the regions it impacted.  To learn more about other high-impact weather events from across North America, be sure to click here!