Weather Home & Garden Astronomy Best Days Natural Cures Recipes TV Blogs & Forums Shop

Summer is Peak Season for Deadly Lightning

Back to 2008 Press Releases

Farmers’ Almanac® Weather Experts Say Play it Safe

For Immediate Release – July 24th, 2008

Media Contact:
Cynthia Greenwood
GreenMark Public Relations
847-404-8404
cgreenwood@greenmarkpr.com

SAVANNAH, Ga. (July 21, 2008) – Summer is peak season for one of the nation’s deadliest weather phenomena: lightning. An estimated 25 million cloud-to-ground lightning flashes occur each year in the United States. While lightning can be fascinating to watch, it is extremely dangerous.

During each of the past 30 years, lightning in the U.S. has killed an average of 73 people. This is more than the average of 68 deaths per year caused by tornadoes and 16 deaths per year caused by hurricanes. Because lightning usually claims only one or two victims at a time and does not cause mass destruction, this killer generally receives much less attention. While documented lightning injuries in the U.S. average about 300 every year, undocumented injuries are likely much higher.

If you’re involved in outdoor activities such as boating, swimming, fishing, bicycling, golfing, jogging, walking, hiking and camping, you need to take appropriate actions in a timely manner when thunderstorms approach. To reduce the threat of death or injury, those in charge of organized outdoor activities should develop and follow a plan to keep participants and spectators safe from lightning.

Farmers’ Almanac Editor Peter Geiger provides these recommendations to help people avoid lightning’s dangers:

Beware of a developing thunderstorm. They are most likely to develop on warm summer days and go through various stages of growth, development and dissipation. As the sun heats the air, pockets of warmer air start to rise. When this air reaches a certain level, cumulus clouds begin to form. Continued heating can cause these clouds to grow vertically upward into “towering cumulus” clouds. This may be one of the first indications of a developing thunderstorm.

Lightning discharge: don’t be part of it. During a thunderstorm, each flash of cloud-to-ground lightning is a potential killer. In addition to the visible flash that travels through the air, the current associated with the lightning discharge travels along the ground. Although some victims are struck directly by the main lightning stroke, many are struck as the current moves in and along the ground.

An approaching thunderstorm: when to seek safe shelter. Lightning can strike up to 10 miles away from where rains are occurring. That’s about the distance you can hear thunder. The first stroke of lightning is just as deadly as the last. If the sky looks threatening, take shelter before hearing thunder.

The 30-30 rule. Use the 30-30 rule where visibility is good and there is nothing obstructing your view of the thunderstorm. When you see lightning, count the time until you hear thunder. If that time is 30 seconds or less, the thunderstorm is within six miles of you and is dangerous. Seek shelter immediately. The threat of lightning continues for a much longer period than most people realize. Wait at least 30 minutes after the last lightning flash before leaving shelter. Don’t be fooled by sunshine or blue sky.

Avoid certain indoor activities. Before, during and after thunderstorms, stay away from windows and doors and avoid contact with anything that conducts electricity.

If someone is struck, what do I do? Medical care may be needed immediately to save the person’s life. Cardiac arrest and irregularities, burns and nerve damage are common in cases where people are struck by lightning. However, with proper treatment, including CPR if necessary, most victims survive a lightning strike, although the long-term effects on their lives can be devastating.

Summer is peak season for one of the nation’s deadliest weather phenomena: lightning. To reduce the threat of death or injury from lightning, take appropriate actions in a timely manner when thunderstorms approach. Visit www.FarmersAlmanac.com for more weather safety tips.

About the Farmers' Almanac:
The Farmers' Almanac, which features an orange and green cover, has been published every year since 1818. Available at grocery and bookstores nationwide, it contains useful and interesting articles, as well as long-range weather predictions, gardening advice, recipes and more. Editors Peter Geiger and Sandi Duncan are available for lively and informative interviews, either by phone or in person. Both love to talk about the weather, share useful Almanac trivia and advice, and offer tips on how to "get back to the simple life." Visit on the Web at www.FarmersAlmanac.com.