31 Lightning Facts That Are Shocking But True

By Karin Lehnardt, Senior Writer—Reviewed for accuracy by the FactRetriever editorial team

Published December 31, 2020

Lightning is one of nature’s most powerful and unpredictable forces. In a fraction of a second, it can heat the air hotter than the surface of the sun and strike with incredible precision or randomness. These lightning facts reveal just how strange, dangerous, and fascinating this natural phenomenon really is.

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]

References