By Coastal Carolina News Staff Writer
September 27, 2026
Southport, NC — Today it’s a clear skies, but on September 20 and 21, the Frying Pan Shoals Light Station – located 32 miles off the Cape Fear – weathered a barrage of lightning strikes during an intense offshore thunderstorm, according to updates released by the station’s ownership team. The storm cell stalled directly over the historic tower for several hours, delivering repeated, direct hits that knocked out communications and damaged electronic systems throughout the structure.
Crews working on restoration projects were already inside the tower when the storm arrived shortly after midnight. They reported feeling the tower shake with each strike, seeing interior lights flicker, and experiencing sensory effects from the electrical discharge. According to the owners, personnel temporarily lost vision, smelled and tasted the metallic tang of electricity, and heard the steel superstructure sizzle as current traveled through the tower’s framework.
The station’s communications systems failed in sequence as the storm progressed. The primary system went down first, followed by satellite equipment, AT&T FirstNet backup, and the VHF marine radio. Each strike “blew up” additional electronics, leaving the crew without any functioning communication channels for a period of time. Despite the loss of equipment, the owners emphasized that the tower’s steel design acted as a Faraday cage, protecting everyone inside from injury.
A helicopter parked on the station’s flight deck was inspected after the storm and found to be flight‑worthy, avoiding major damage despite the intensity of the lightning activity. Video captured by those on board documented at least one of the strikes, with owners later confirming that the tower endured multiple direct hits over roughly six hours.
The Frying Pan Shoals Light Station team released additional details on September 25, noting ongoing assessments and repairs to damaged systems. No injuries were reported.
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