Here are a couple of photos of lightning from the storms in the last 24 hours. 
This post was written by Schnack on July 13, 2012
More Lightning Facts
Here are a few more lighting stats from the NWS.
For last year alone (2011)
20 of the 26 victims (77%) were involved in leisure activities
7 of the 26 victims (27%) were involved in water activities
6 of the 26 victims (23%) were involved in camping
So far this year, all 4 victims have been involved in leisure activities (3 men fishing, 1 boy playing)
Based on 210 cases from 2006 through 2011…
- 62% of victims were doing leisure activities
- Most deaths were between 10-29 years of age (43%), but there is another spike of 40-60 years old (31%).
- Most deaths occur on weekends (Saturday – 19%, Sunday – 17%)
- 81% of victims were male
- 99% of victims were outside (Duh!)
- Peak lightning fatality months are June (25%) and July (33%).
Posted under Lightning
This post was written by Schnack on June 27, 2012
Lightning Facts
Lightning Awareness week is this week. Here are some interesting facts about lightning from the NWS.
- Average people killed each year from lightning in the US = 54.
- Over 80% of lightning victims are male.
- All four victims this year in the US were male; three victims had been fishing.
- The last lightning fatality in Wisconsin was in 2011, in Minnesota there were 2 in 2009, and in Iowa it was 2008.
Posted under Lightning
This post was written by Schnack on June 26, 2012
Lightning Safety Awareness Week: June 24-30
From NWS:
When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!
Summer is the peak season for one of the nation’s deadliest weather phenomena— lightning. But don’t be fooled, lightning strikes year round. The goal of this Website is to safeguard U.S. residents from lightning. In the United States, an average of 54 people are reported killed each year by lightning. Click here to learn more about lightning.
The below chart shows what type of weather event has caused death.
Posted under Education, Lightning, NOAA
This post was written by Schnack on June 24, 2012
Lightning Damage
Lightning is nothing to mess with. When there is a thunderstorm near by…you need to get inside a building. Thunderstorms moved through Grundy and Black Hawk Counties Sunday night. Fred Keezer took these photos at his place just outside of Dike. There were strips of wood blown off the side of the tree with some chunks more than 200 ft from the tree. Take a look at the piece of the tree Fred is standing next to.
This post was written by Schnack on June 12, 2012
Thursday Storm Photos
The photos below were posted on my Facebook page.
The photo is of the storm moving through Cedar Falls this morning with lightning on the right side of the photo. Thanks to Darren Derhammer for sending the photo.
The photo below was taken this morning 1 mile north of Rowley. Thanks to Ryan Engel for posting sending the photo.
The photo below was taken by Jeff Crooks.
The photo below was taken by April Hurley.
This post was written by Schnack on July 21, 2011
Lightning Safety Week
From NWS:
Summer is the peak season for one of the nation’s deadliest weather phenomena— lightning. But don’t be fooled, lightning strikes year round. The goal of this Website is to safeguard U.S. residents from lightning. In the United States, an average of 55 people are reported killed each year by lightning. To date, there has been 6 deaths in 2011. Find out the sad facts about lightning deaths in previous years.
Click here to learn more about lightning.
Take a look and see how lightning ranks when it comes to weather related fatalities.
Posted under Lightning
This post was written by Schnack on June 23, 2011
