Skymet weather

5 killed in United States due to lightning

July 18, 2016 7:59 PM |

Inside - US

In the last week, as much as 5 cases of death have come in due to lightning strikes in United States. These deadly lightning happened over different parts of the country. On an average 49 deaths are reported across US each year due to these lightning strikes.

It is expected that more thunderstorms are ready to shake several parts of the country this week with more human lives will be at risk.

People who are in preparation to spend time outdoors this summer are urged to check the lightning safety tips to avoid becoming another lightning death statistic.

"While only a small number of thunderstorms become strong enough to produce damaging winds, large hail and tornadoes, every thunderstorm produces lightning," said the Weatherman.

"Many lightning strikes are harmless and have very little effect on people and the environment," Lada said. "However, people should keep in mind that it only takes one to endanger lives and cause damage to property."

Approximately 25 million lightning strikes happen across the US every year.

"It is a common myth that lightning is attracted to metal. While metal objects don't attract lightning, they are extremely good conductors of dangerous electricity," said the weathermen.

"Lightning usually tries to find the quickest path to the ground. If that path happens to be through anything that conducts electricity, including metal objects and phone cords, the electricity from the bolt will travel easily to whoever is holding it,” the weathermen continued.

A survey by Lightning Specialists’ with the National Weather Service states that death by lightning strikes while playing football is more while most deaths by lightning is recorded in the state of Florida.

Out of all the lightning related deaths from 2006 to 2015, 79% of the deaths were males while the rest were females.

Check out the live status of lightning and thundering across India here.

Image Credit: AP

 

 






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