National Lightning Safety Council

Swiftie or not, we know All Too Well dancing through lightning strikes is a bad idea. Lightning kills thousands globally each year.

But here’s how to stay safe. …Ready For It?

All You Had To Do Was Stay inside or get in your Getaway Car to avoid its Electric Touch.

Coincidentally, I was on Fox 6 in Milwaukee yesterday to talk a bit about lightning safety. Jump to about 10:35 to see it.

www.youtube.com/live/AgBppZs...

Being struck by lightning isn’t a minor thing. We shouldn’t be making light of safety measures.

We estimate than 10 people are impacted when someone is struck by lightning (friends, relatives, coworkers).

For the ~200 people who are struck each year in the U.S., that means 2,000 more people are impacted in some way - from losing a loved one or having to care for them long term.

“If it hits you, it’s just not your day.”

90% of people struck by lightning survive but many have lifelong injuries. We still see around 20 deaths from lightning every year in the U.S.

We’ve seen 5 deaths in the U.S. in September alone.

The U.S. used to have 400-500 lightning fatalities a year. Globally, we see 24,000 fatalities a year from lightning - many of them occurring at sporting events.

Really shameful to see this on Big Noon Kickoff.

Two hunters and their dogs in Florida were killed by lightning on Monday September 22. These are now 3 fatalities in Florida this year.

Four hunters have died this month due to lightning strikes, and there are now 19 lightning fatalities in the U.S. for 2025.

www.wfla.com/news/highlan...

48-year-old Plymouth man, DNR employee struck by lightning, dies The Washington County Sheriff's Office said he was found dead in a wooded area in the town of Kewaskum.

A Wisconsin DNR forester was struck and killed by lightning on Monday, September 22.

This is the first WI fatality since 2021 and the 11th since 2006.

Wisconet manager @coweatherman.bsky.social is a member of @lightningsafety.bsky.social and available to speak.

www.wisn.com/article/48-y...

These are the 15th and 16th lightning fatalities in the United States in 2025.

Map of the U.S. showing the number of 2025 lightning fatalities by state.

Infographic showing the number and gender of lightning fatalities by year.

We’ve learned of another fishing-related lightning fatality - this one occurring in Puerto Rico on August 30.

This is the 5th fishing-related and 14th overall fatality of 2025.

www.primerahora.com/noticias/pue...

South Philly is no stranger to lightning in September.

Between 2016 and 2024, 7,601 lightning events were detected within 15 km (9.3 miles) of The Linc during the month of September. Data from NLDN.

Applauding the NFL for getting it right and delaying the game last night. @minakimes.bsky.social

Lightning detected near Palmyra between 4 and 5 pm.

We've received a report of a lightning strike victim on or near the Ice Age Trail in Palmyra.

There was a lot of lightning in the area.

When you have outdoor plans, make sure you know the forecast. Finish your outdoor activities before thunderstorms develop.

When thunder roars, go indoors!

Map showing the states with lightning fatalities in 2025.

Pictogram showing the numbers of men and women who have been killed by lightning since 2015.

A 32-year-old woman who was on Lake Texoma this weekend has died after being struck by lightning.

This is the 13th known fatality of 2025, matching last year's total.

Being on or near the water is extremely dangerous during thunderstorms, so when thunder roars, go indoors!

Don't call these "Bolts from the Blue".

If you're under the charged anvil region of a thunderstorm, you're in the danger zone - even if it's not raining!

When thunder roars, go indoors!

I wrote a paper published in Weather, Climate, and Society about lightning near @mlb.com games.

1 in 14 games has lightning within a dangerous range.

I propose a solution that is allowable through the MLB Rulebook.

⚡️🧪

journals.ametsoc.org/view/journal...

There needs to be a weather watcher at @mlb.com games. Umpires cannot be trusted to make the decision.

Lightning within 8 miles means everybody on the field is in danger.

Tweets showing Baltimore Orioles playing baseball during thunderstorm.

Map showing 200+ lightning events in 45 minutes near Camden Yards.

200+ lightning events within 8 miles of Camden Yards in the last 35 minutes.

If the Orioles and @mlb.com cared about the safety of their players, umpires, and fans, they'd require all teams have #LightningSafety plans in place.

Just because it's dry doesn't mean it's safe!

@avawbal.bsky.social

That could help reduce the possibility, but won’t completely eliminate the risk.

People are injured by lightning every year when they are in their homes because they are on devices plugged into the wall.

weather.com/news/trendin...

People are injured by lightning every year when they are in their homes because they are on devices plugged into the wall.

Unplug your laptops and cell phones before using them during a thunderstorm!

www.cbs42.com/regional/lou...

I will be joining Fox Weather in about 10 minutes to chat lightning safety.

Very important conversation with all the lightning incidents we’re seeing lately.

Another lightning mass casualty event this year.

This fatality brings us to 12 for the year and we’re on pace for an above average number of fatalities.

If you have outdoor plans, you need to keep lightning safety in mind.

Go inside when you hear thunder or see lightning!

Chart showing the trends of lightning fatalities by day between 2015 and 2025.

We'd been running below average for lightning fatalities until mid-June but we've seen a significant increase in lightning incidents.

We saw something similar in 2016, when we had 12 fatalities through July 10 followed by 24 more through the end of August.

When thunder roars, go indoors!

We're sorry to hear that Kevin!

We estimate that each lightning death significantly impacts at least 10 close family members or friends.

Since 2006, we've now recorded more than 500 fatalities, which means there are at least 5,000 people who have been significantly impacted.

Chart showing the trends of lightning fatalities by day between 2015 and 2025.

We'd been running below average for lightning fatalities until mid-June but we've seen a significant increase in lightning incidents.

We saw something similar in 2016, when we had 12 fatalities through July 10 followed by 24 more through the end of August.

When thunder roars, go indoors!

We've learned that the man who was struck by lightning on July 8 has died.

This is the 11th lightning death of 2025, and the 17th in New Jersey since 2006.

There have been 7 lightning deaths since June 26. On average, 4 people are killed by lightning between June 26 and July 15.

Guys, you need to GO INSIDE when there’s thunder.
Lightning app is great, your local news station probably has a weather app with lightning alerts on it, too. I keep seeing people in my neighborhood outside while there’s lightning crackling all around. Stop doing that!!!!

Map showing lightning fatalities in 2025 across the US.

Pictograph showing US lightning fatalities over the last 11 years.

A man who was playing soccer in Columbus, Ohio, when he was struck by lightning on June 29th has died.

This is the 10th fatality of 2025, and the 14th soccer-related fatality since 2006.

This has us on pace with average for the last 10 years.

www.10tv.com/article/news...

There has been a significant increase in the number of lightning incidents in the past few weeks.

July is the peak of thunderstorm season, so make sure if you have outdoor plans, you're paying attention to the weather!

When thunder roars, go indoors!

A North Carolina man who was struck by lightning while boating on June 29 has died.

This is the 9th lightning fatality of 2025, and the 6th associated with boating, fishing, or being near the water.

North Carolina has the 4th most lightning fatalities since 2006.