At any given moment, there are 1,800 thunderstorms in progress somewhere on Earth. This amounts to 16 million storms a year! In the United States, there are an estimated 25 million cloud-to-ground lightning flashes each year. While lightning can be fascinating to watch, it is also extremely dangerous.

In Missouri there were 86 deaths attributed to lightning from 1959 - 2002, an average of 2 deaths per year. Missouri ranks 17th nationally in lightning deaths per state.

Tragedies in school sponsored athletics are unfortunately a growing trend as well. When thunderstorms threaten, coaches and officials must not let the desire to start or finish an athletic activity or event cloud their judgment when the safety of participants and spectators is in jeopardy.


For more lightning facts and safety information go to the NWS Lightning Awareness



How Lightning Forms

Lightning results from the buildup and discharge of electrical energy between positively and negatively charged areas. Rising and descending air within a thunderstorm separates these positive and negative charges. Water and ice particles also affect charge distribution. A cloud-to-ground lightning strike begins as an invisible channel of electrically charged air moving from the cloud toward the ground. When one channel nears an object on the ground, a powerful surge of electricity from the ground moves upward to the clouds and produces the visible lightning strike.

Lightning Facts

    * Lightning causes an average of 80 fatalities and 300 injuries each year.
    * Lightning occurs in all thunderstorms; each year lightning strikes the Earth 20 million times.
    * The energy from one lightning flash could light a 100-watt light bulb for more than 3 months.
    * Most lightning fatalities and injuries occur when people are caught outdoors in the summer months during the afternoon and evening.
    * Lightning can occur from cloud-to-cloud, within a cloud, cloud-to-ground, or cloud-to-air.
    * Many fires in the western United States and Alaska are started by lightning.
    * The air near a lightning strike is heated to 50,000°F--hotter than the surface of the sun!
    * The rapid heating and cooling of the air near the lightning channel causes a shock wave that results in thunder.


How far away is the Thunderstorm?

    * Count the number of seconds between a flash of lightning and the next clap of thunder.
    * Divide this number by 5 to determine the distance to the lightning in miles.

In recent years, people have been killed by lightning while:

    * boating
    * standing under a tree
    * riding a horse
    * swimming
    * riding on a lawnmower
    * playing soccer
    * golfing
    * talking on the telephone
    * fishing in a boat
    * bike riding
    * loading a truck
    * mountain climbing

Lightning Myths and Truths

MYTH: If it is not raining, then there is no danger from lightning.
TRUTH: Lightning often strikes outside of heavy rain and may occur as far as 10 miles away from any rainfall. This is especially true in the western United States where thunderstorms sometimes produce very little rain.
MYTH: The rubber soles of shoes or rubber tires on a car will protect you from being struck by lightning.
TRUTH: Rubber-soled shoes and rubber tires provide NO protection from lightning. The steel frame of a hard-topped vehicle provides increased protection if you are not touching metal. Although you may be injured if lightning strikes your car, you are much safer inside a vehicle than outside.
MYTH: People struck by lightning carry an electrical charge and should not be touched.
TRUTH: Lightning-strike victims carry no electrical charge and should be attended to immediately. Contact your local American Red Cross chapter for information on CPR and first aid classes.
MYTH: "Heat lightning" occurs after very hot summer days and poses no threat.
TRUTH: "Heat lightning" is a term used to describe lightning from a thunderstorm too far away for thunder to be heard.


30/30 Lightning Safety Rule

Go indoors if, after seeing lightning, you cannot count to 30 before hearing thunder. Stay indoors for 30 minutes after hearing the last clap of thunder.



(This material provided by NOAA, NWS, FEMA and American Red Cross)