Types of Storms (5)

1/26/2017 (Permalink)

Lightning storms can be very dangerous and are often forgotten about. You may be surprised to learn that lightning is a major cause of storm damage in many areas around the country. The National Lightning Safety Institute estimates the cost of lightning damage in the $5 to $6 billion dollar per year range. Lightning that hits trees and the ground is a common cause of wildfires, structure fires, property damage and power outages. 8.6 Million. That's how many times, on average, lightning strikes the Earth every day. That's about 100 times each second. According to a 2004 study by lightning researchers, Dr. E. Phillip Krider and Kenneth Kehoe, the U.S. alone is hit about 30 million times each year by lightning.  With temperatures up to four times as hot as the sun (up to 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit), concentrated into a channel often as slender as a pencil, it's no wonder lightning can be destructive and deadly.