NOAA National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office

National Lightning information

• NWS Education and Safety
• North Dakota Department of Emergency Services
• National Lightning Awareness and Safety Page - Lightning Overview, The Science of Lightning, Lightning Safety Outdoors, Lightning Safety Indoors, Medical Impacts of Lightning, and lightning photographs. 

In the United States:

• 25 million cloud-to-ground lightning flashes each year

• 5 times hotter than the sun

• From 1959-2003: the US has recorded 3,696 lightning deaths, average of 85 per year

• From 1959-1994: the US has recorded 9,818 lightning injuries, average of 280 per year

• Florida and Texas have recorded the most lightning deaths

• Alaska and Hawaii have recorded the least lightning deaths

In North Dakota

• North Dakota ranks 44th nationwide in regards to lightning deaths

• From 1959-2004, ND has recorded 12 lightning deaths

• From 1959-2004, ND has recorded 33 lightning injuries

• Lightning events in North Dakota

  • August 2, 1996: lightning struck a 12 unit condo in Dickinson. The condo burned to the ground causing $300,000 in damage and leaving 24 people homeless.

  • June 1, 1997: an 11 year old boy was injured by lightning while fishing near Elgin with his father

  • July 24, 1997: lightning struck near Rugby and killed 19 cattle huddled under a tree

  • July 5, 1998: lightning ignited a 400 gallon oil storage tank near Lignite in Burke county

  • July 11, 1998: lightning disrupted power services to 2,300 electrical customers in Minot

  • August 19, 2000: lightning started a fire in Harvey that destroyed a furniture store

  • August 26, 2000: smoke from a lightning induced prairie fire reduced visibilities to 1/2 mile on Interstate 94 near Sentinel Butte

  • June 27, 2001:  Lightning struck and killed a calf in the front yard of a ranch 16 miles southwest of Rhame. 
    
    
    Keep in mind: if you can hear thunder, you can be struck by lightning