2021: Record low number of lightning deaths in the U.S.

Lightning safety campaigns and weather technology apps, like Weather & Radar, are helping to increase more awareness about lightning events and limit deaths. In 2021, the U.S had a record low number of lightning deaths, 11 in total. For a preventable point, this is still too many deaths.

There were a total of 194 million lightning events in the United States in 2021. Even though the number of lightning events has been increasing, the number of deaths due to lightning has been sharply decreasing, more notable since 2006.

For example, in 2006 there were 48 lightning deaths, in 2013 there were 23 lightning deaths. Flash forward to 2020, there were 17 deaths due to lightning.

Data between 2006 and 2020 show that 80 percent of deaths were men while 20 percent were females. Most of the deaths happened to those between 20-29 years old followed by 30-49 years old. July is typically the month when the most lightning deaths occur, with Saturdays being the most active day too.

Read more: Lightning facts

Unfortunately, about 63% of deaths happen while individuals do outdoor leisure activities, most doing water activities such as boating, but gardening, fishing, golfing, or just being at the beach while there are thunderstorms nearby contribute to the number of yearly deaths.

Know that lightning can happen anywhere there are thunderstorms nearby, it doesn’t necessarily need to be raining. Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm base, therefore it is critical to monitor the weather and know which way the storms might be moving or growing.

Follow these lightning safety guidelines whenever you have plans to do outdoor activities, any season of the year.