Lightning is one of the number one storm related killers. Here are some interesting and perhaps eye-opening statistics about the dangers of lightning.

10 deaths nationwide so far...

28 deaths in 2008

Medical Stats

www.lightningsafety.com

L In October 1997, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration published findings of some 35 years of USA lightning statistics. Fatalities, injuries, and damage were compiled for the years 1959-1994. We summarize the Report (1) as below:

1. Location of Incident:
40% Unreported.
27% Open fields & recreation areas (not golf).
14% Under trees (not golf).
8% Water-related (boating, fishing, swimming...).
5% Golf/golf under trees.
3% Heavy equipment and machinery-related.
2.4% Telephone-related.
0.7% Radio, transmitter & antenna-related.

2. Gender of victims = 84% male; 16% female.
3. Months of most incidents = June 21%, July 30%, Aug 22%.
4. Days of week of most incidents = Sun./Wed./Sat.
5. Time of day of most incidents = 2 PM to 6 PM.
6. Number of victims = One (91%), two or more (9%).
7. Deaths by State, Top Five = FL, MI, TX, NY, TN.
8. Injuries by State, Top Five = FL, MI, PA, NC, NY.

More Lightning Statistics

One lightning casualty occurred for every 86,000 flashes in the United States

One death occurred for every 345,000 flashes

One injury occurred for every 114,000 flashes

Overall, a rate of 7.7 casualties per million people per 100 million flashes was found for the entire United States.

A very frequently asked question is "How likely am I to be struck by lightning?" This is a seemingly simple question, but there is no single answer that fits everyone. The average annual per capita strike rate in the United States is around 1 in 600,000. However, this DOES NOT mean your odds of being struck are 1 in 600,000.

The odds of being struck vary from person to person, and are determined by a number of different factors. Among the most significant are:
1. Geographical location and climatology
2. Diurnal and annual climatology
3. Personal lifestyle/hobbies
Number of thunderstorms occurring at any given moment: 2000

Number of lightning strikes every second: 100

Number of lightning strikes per day: 8 Million

Number of lightning strikes in the USA per year: 20 Million

Number of VOLTS in a lightning flash: 1 Billion

Number of AMPS in a lighting flash: between 10,000 and 200,000

The average lightning flash would light a 100 watt light bulb for 3 months.

Source: National Weather Service: Southern Region

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