Counties in Colorado with the highest injuries, deaths from lightning strikes

DENVER (KDVR) – Severe weather moved across the Front Range on Thursday, resulting in a lightning storm that set fire to three separate houses.

While no injuries were reported in the most recent Colorado storm, lightning can be deadly. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Colorado has had one of the highest rates of lightning deaths and injuries in the U.S. in recent years.

Lightning sparks house fires in Broomfield, Evergreen, Erie

Every year, it kills around 20 people in the nation and injures hundreds more, according to the National Weather Service. In Colorado alone, it has caused chaos over the state for years.

The NWS has kept records of lightning-related deaths and injuries in Colorado from 1980 to 2021. Although many counties reported lightning-related deaths and injuries, some places had significantly more reports than others.

Are you a prime target for a lightning strike?

Counties with most lightning-related harm

Here are counties in Colorado with some of the highest lighting-related injuries and deaths:

Your building could be hit by lightning and you wouldn’t know it

Based on the available data, El Paso and Larimer were the two counties that had some of the most injuries and deaths in the state over 41 years.

The National Weather Service says the best way to stay safe during a lightning storm is to go inside, although there have been incidents where people were struck while indoors.

The CDC recommends avoiding water, windows, porches, concrete and electrical equipment while indoors during a lightning storm.

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