Lightning Safety Week

This week, 19-25 June is being observed as Lightning Safety Week. Its theme is “When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!”

Summer is the peak season for what is considered one of the nation's deadliest weather phenomena - lightning. However, lightning strikes year round. In the United States, an average of 55 people are killed each year by lightning. To date, there has been 5 deaths in 2011.

In addition, hundreds of people are permanently injured each year.  People struck by lightning suffer from a variety of long-term, debilitating symptoms, including (but not limited to) memory loss, attention deficits, sleep disorders, chronic pain, numbness, dizziness, stiffness in joints, irritability, fatigue, weakness, muscle spasms, and depression.

For more information related to lightning safety, please visit:

National Weather Service: Lightning Safety