It’s Severe Weather Awareness Week in Florida, and today’s hot topic is none other than lightning.
The most pertinent part of this week is to learn how to prepare for any severe weather event that might come your way. Every day this week, I’ll be writing about a different type of severe weather so you know how that could have an impact on you and your family.
Lightning strikes ground level in the U.S. about 25 million times a year on average, according to the National Weather Service
Florida is typically home to the most lightning fatalities every year with about seven people a year killed by a lightning strike.
As a meteorologist, I can easily forecast where a storm will be, but I am not able to forecast the exact location of every lightning strike. It’s just not possible. Instead, I will prepare you for how to stay safe.
In Florida, it’s no secret that the majority of thunderstorms occur in the summer.
You know the drill. Every afternoon we have a thunderstorm and oftentimes that includes lightning. The reason is that Florida is surrounded by water. And when you combine the ocean with the sunshine, you have two major contributing factors to thunderstorms in our area.
We know that warm water is fuel for hurricanes — and also for making your average run-of-the-mill thunderstorm more intense. The warmer the water, the stronger the storm.
Also, I’m debunking a common myth: Did you know that lightning can absolutely strike the same area twice? Also, have you ever heard that rubber protects you? Well, that’s not true either.
When protecting yourself, never lie flat on the ground or under a tree. If you’re stuck outside, crouch into a ball — I know this might look weird, but we wanna live, right?
Remember, when meteorologists say, “When thunder roars, go indoors,” we really mean it! We care about you and your safety and want you to avoid a lightning strike at all costs!
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