Weather Watch:  July 2004

WHAT ARE YOUR CHANCES OF BEING STRUCK BY LIGHTNING?

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The National Weather Service estimates that your chances of being
killed or injured by a lightning strike over the course of an 80-year
lifetime is 1 in 3000.  Paddlers are even more susceptible to
lightning strikes than the general public because they are outdoors on
the water frequently.  Twenty-five percent of all lightning deaths in
Florida occurred while the victims were on or in the water.  Recent
research by NOAA's Megan Lengyel and Harold Brooks found that,
although lightning used to kill 100-120 people a year 40 years ago,
only 50-60 deaths occur annually now.  They believe that better public
education on lightning safety can cut that number further in half.

Over half of lightning victims are killed with very few or no prior
lightning strikes.  These deaths occur <before> or <after> the time
when the rain and lightning was most intense, when the danger seemed
to be least apparent.  If you can see lightning or hear thunder, you
are already at risk.  If on the water, get to land immediately.  Avoid
the beach, high places, or isolated trees.  Take cover in a building
or car, if possible.  Wait at least 30 minutes until after lightning
activity ceases to resume paddling.  For more information about
lightning safety, see: http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/ and
http://www.ametsoc.org/policy/Lightning_Safety_Article.pdf.

<-David Schultz, NOAA/National Severe Storms Laboratory, Norman, Oklahoma>