Places You’re Most Likely to Be Struck By Lightning in the U.S.
By Diana Gerstacker
When you think of summer, you probably imagine the sunny days you’ll spend outside from sunrise to sunset and overlook the chance of storms until they’re looming overhead.
Though you may not think you can actually get struck by lightning, it happens all the time. An average of 49 people die each year after being struck, according to the National Weather Service, and for every one death there are nine other people who have varying degrees of injury as a result of being struck – many of those injuries turn into lifelong disabilities.
A big problem is that despite warnings, people think it won’t happen to them. According to the NWS, though, the odds you will be struck by lightning in your lifetime are one in 12,000, if you live to be 80 years old. For those that love spending time outside, the likelihood of being struck is even higher, as most people are injured or killed by lightning while enjoying outdoor activities.
The bottom line is that it can happen to anyone. In honor of Lightning Safety Awareness, we compiled data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Lightning Detection Network (NLDN), Spatial Hazard Events and Losses Database for the United States (SHELDUS) and the American Meteorological Society in order to pinpoint some of the most dangerous spots in the U.S. Take a look at our list and remember, “when thunder roars, go indoors.”
Photo: Shutterstock
#10 Tennessee
The state of Tennessee sees an average of 544,648 lightning strikes each year and according to the Spatial Hazard Events and Losses Database for the United States (SHELDUS), the major damage, injury and mortality rates are concentrated in and around cities. With 140 lightning deaths since 1959, Tennessee is one of the most deadly states when it comes to lightning.
#9 Colorado
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This western state experiences an average of 517,016 strikes a year and, since 1959, has had 143 lightning deaths, the most of any state in the West according to the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Some experts have suggested that the high rates of injury and death in Colorado might be linked with people spending more time enjoying outdoor recreation.
Related: Watch What Happens When Lightning Strikes a Beach
#8 Ohio
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The fourth deadliest state when it comes to lightning, Ohio experiences an average of 438,391 lightning strikes per year. If you look at the SHELDUS map, you’ll notice that damage, injury and mortality rates are highest around cities.
#7 North Carolina
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North Carolina, with an average of 484,902 lightning strikes a year, is among the most dangerous spots on the East Coast. With 196 lightning deaths since 1959, North Carolina is behind only Florida and Texas when it comes to most lightning deaths.
#6 Texas
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Everything is bigger in Texas and apparently that applies to the lightning storms too. The giant state experiences an average of 2.8 million strikes per year and has had 218 deaths as a result of lightning. According to the SHELDUS map, the damage and injury from lightning storms seems to be most concentrated around major cities.
Related: In-Flight Shock: What It Looks Like When A Plane’s Struck By Lightning
#5 Arkansas
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The fifth most frequently hit state, with 865,880 lightning strikes a year, is Arkansas. Counties in the middle of the state seem to be hit the hardest, according to the SHELDUS map, and the resulting property damage costs are astronomical.
#4 Alabama
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With an average of 769,372 strikes a year, Alabama tops the list of most dangerous places in the U.S., and the city of Mobile takes a lot of the heat. According to a report published in the American Meteorological Society, Mobile is number nine on the list of metropolitan areas with the most lightning fatalities per square mile.
#3 Mississippi
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With more than 800,000 lightning strikes hitting the ground of Mississippi a year, this state makes the top three. Luckily, though, Mississippi has experienced a relatively low mortality rate. Despite the frequency of strikes, 106 people have died since 1959. Warm, humid air and hot sunny days are partially to blame for the abundant storms.
#2 Louisiana
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Louisiana is the second most lightning-prone state in the country with an average of more than 827,000 strikes a year. Since 1959 there have been 142 lightning fatalities and the county with the most lightning-related incidents is East Baton Rouge Parish. According to the the SHELDUS map, that tiny county has experienced $2,442,500 in property damage as a result of lightning storms from 1995 to 2009.
#1 Florida
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The lightning hotspot of the country, Florida is struck by lightning more than 1.2 million times a year, according to the National Lightning Detection Network (NLDN) and since 1959 there have been 477 lightning deaths, which is more than double the number of deaths in any other state. Florida’s location between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico is believed to play a big role in the formation and severity of lightning storms.
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