Where in the U.S. you’re most likely to be struck by lightning

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March 6, 2014

Where in the U.S. you're most likely to be struck by lightning, by county. — Where in the U.S. you’re most likely to be struck by lightning, by county.

Lightningophobes, take note. Here’s a new map, arranged by county, showing – over a 15-year period – injuries, fatalities, and instances of property and crop destruction, caused by lightning. Darker-red areas show where the lightning events have tended to happen more regularly. The most populated areas suffer the most lightning fatalities, of course. The map is part of Google Maps Gallery. It is called “Lightning Spatial Hazard Events and Losses for the United States, 1995-2009.” The Atlantic Cities wrote of this map:

One moment you’re strolling across the golf course, pointing a 9 iron at a funny-looking cloud. The next your body is wracked with the searing pain of 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit and you’ve got the beginnings of a weird scar shaped like a fractal.

There’s also a map arranged by state, so you can decide where not to move next, if the possibility of a lightning scares you.

Lightning strikes by U.S. state. Visit NOAA to see a map weighted by population. You'll see, for example, that while Texans suffer many lightning strikes, the strike/person ratio is really not bad. — Lightning strikes by U.S. state. Visit NOAA to see a map weighted by population. You’ll see, for example, that while Texans suffer many lightning fatalities, the strike/person ratio is really not bad.

In a typical year, the U.S. is zapped by more than 22 million lightning strikes that kill 55 to 60 people and injure 400.

But let’s not forget the rest of the world. NASA has this map:

Data from space-based optical sensors reveal the uneven distribution of worldwide lightning strikes. Units: flashes/km2/yr. Image credit: NSSTC Lightning Team. Read more from NASA. — Data from space-based optical sensors reveal lightning strikes unevenly across the globe. Beware the heart of Africa. Image via NSSTC Lightning Team. Read more from NASA.

Bottom line: Where in the U.S. and world you’re most likely to be struck by lightning.

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March 6, 2014

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Deborah Byrd

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About the Author:

Deborah Byrd (asteroid 3505 Byrd) helps edit EarthSky.org and is a frequent host of EarthSky videos. Deborah created the EarthSky radio series in 1991 and founded EarthSky.org in 1994. Prior to that, she had worked for the University of Texas McDonald Observatory since 1976, and created and produced their Star Date radio series. She has won a galaxy of awards from the broadcasting and science communities, including having an asteroid named in her honor in 1990, a Public Service Award from the National Science Board in 2003, and the Education Prize from the American Astronomical Society in 2020. A science communicator and educator since 1976, Byrd believes in science as a force for good in the world and a vital tool for the 21st century. "Being an EarthSky editor is like hosting a big global party for cool nature-lovers," she says.