View of intercloud lightning at night, late Twentieth Century. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
(Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)The National Weather Service released some lightning strike data. It's not good if you live in North Carolina. From 2006 through 2021, there were a total of 444 lightning strike deaths in the United States. Men are 4 times more likely than women to be struck by lightning. The average age of a person struck by lightning is 37 years old. About one-third of lightning injuries occur indoors! What!?
Ok now the bad news for North Carolina. Southeastern states are most at risk. Florida, Texas, Colorado, North Carolina, Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Missouri, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania have the most lightning deaths and injuries. Florida is considered the “lightning capital” of the country, with more than 2,000 lightning injuries over the past 50 years.
Since 2006, only five states (Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, New Hampshire, and Washington) and the U.S. Virgin Islands have reported no lightning deaths.
Here are some other interesting stats regarding lightning strikes:
Fatality Rate: On average, lightning strikes result in around 240,000 fatalities worldwide per year.
Age: Outdoor activities often put young adults and children at higher risk, while older individuals may face increased susceptibility due to health conditions.
Occupational Risks: Certain professions, such as outdoor workers in industries like construction, agriculture, and forestry, face higher risks of being struck by lightning due to prolonged outdoor exposure.
Activities: Common activities associated with lightning strikes include outdoor sports, recreational activities, and working in open fields or water bodies.
Time of Day: Lightning strikes are more prevalent during the afternoon and early evening hours, coinciding with the peak heating of the day.
I don't mess around with lightning at all! If my weather app says lightning is close by, I call it quits! Even in the middle of a competitive pickleball match haha.
