31 Electrifying Lightning Facts

By Karin Lehnardt, Senior Writer

Published December 31, 2020

In 1752, Benjamin Franklin proved that lightning is electricity by flying a silk kite in a thunderstorm. He saw sparks shoot from a key on a ribbon he was holding._[4]
Lightning tends to strike tall structures, which is why it's dangerous to seek shelter under tall trees in a storm._[4]
Lightning always takes the easiest path from cloud to ground._[4]
A storm is about one mile away for every five seconds difference between hearing thunder and seeing a lightning flash._[4]
As a lightning bolt flashes, the air expands at supersonic speed, making the sound of thunder._[4]
The air around a lightning bolt is five times hotter than the surface of the Sun._[4]

Just how hot is lightning?

Lightning is the visible discharge of static electricity from a cloud._[4]
Thunder can be heard up to 25 miles away from the initial lightning strike._[6]
Lightning kills over 20 people per year in the United States and injures hundreds more. Survivors often suffer lifelong neurological problems._[6]
Lightning victims do not carry an electric charge; the human body does not store electricity._[4]
Lightning strikes the Empire State Building about 25 times a year._[3]
Lightning can and often does strike the same place twice._[3]

Thunder is good, thunder is impressive; but it is lightning that does the work.

- Mark Twain

Lightning can strike even if the sky is clear and it's not raining. If you can hear thunder, lightning is close enough to be dangerous._[3]
While lightning heats the surrounding air, a lightning bolt itself doesn't have a temperature._[3]
The average width of lightning is about 2–3 cm. The average length is about 2–3 miles._[2]
A single lightning bolt can strike more than one place at the same time. Double—and triple—lightning strikes are common._[3]
On October 22, 2017, scientists recorded a lightning "megaflash." The jolt spanned over 310 miles (500 km) and spread across 3 states. Typically, lightning bolts travel between 0.6 miles and 20 miles (1 and 20 km)._[2]
Keraunophobia is the fear of lightning._[3]
The largest lightning bolt ever recorded spanned 418 miles (673 km)._[2]

It occured on October 31, 2018, in Brazil

Two types of lightning strikes exist: negative strikes and positive strikes. Positive strikes are about 5 times more powerful than negative strikes._[1]
The odds of getting struck by lightning are about 1 in 500,000._[5]
While lightning occurs throughout the United States, the southeastern states are most at risk for strikes._[5]
Lightning can send electricity through metal pipes and metal reinforcements to concrete floors and walls._[5]
Florida is considered the lightning capital of the United States, with over 2,000 lightning injuries in the last 50 years._[5]
While lightning can strike any time during the year, lightning casualties are highest in July._[5]
Two-thirds of all lightning strikes occur in the afternoon, between noon and 6pm._[5]

Not safe anywhere

One-third (32%) of lightning injuries occur indoors._[5]
Men are five times more likely to be struck by lightning than women. In fact, 85% of lightning fatalities are men. The majority of deaths occur among whites._[5]
About 10% of people who are struck by lightning die, mainly due to heart attack. Other lightning injuries include blunt trauma, skin lesions, burns, and neurological syndromes._[5]
An average lightning instance lasts about a quarter of a second and consists of 3–4 strikes._[5]
In terms of occupation, construction workers and farmers are the most likely to get struck by lightning._[5]