Latest news with #lightning
CBS News
2 hours ago
- Climate
- CBS News
Multiple injured in lightning strikes as severe storms slam North Texas
Severe storms tore through the Dallas-Fort Worth area overnight, leaving widespread damage from south Fort Worth to Arlington. The storms brought strong winds, heavy rain, and large hail. In Everman, hail shattered windshields, damaged rooftops, and scattered debris across yards. CBS News Texas "It was a little bigger than a golf ball," said resident Lorena Perez. "We were on a walk with the dog, and it was just all of a sudden. We weren't expecting hail, and we had to take shelter." The storm also knocked down trees and shattered car windows, leaving many residents with major cleanup efforts. Maintenance crews were out early Monday, making repairs. Dangerous lightning accompanied the hail. At Mustang Park on Lake Benbrook, 14 people huddled under a canopy were struck by lightning around 8:20 p.m., officials said. The canopy acted as a conductor, shocking everyone beneath it. "When the lightning went through the canopy, it went through all of them," said Ron Becker, chief of the Cresson Fire Department. "All of them were initially numbed and certainly affected by it." Two people were hospitalized, while others were treated at the scene or sought care on their own. "You want to get into a structure; you don't want to be in a temporary outbuilding," said paramedic Traci Becker. In nearby Willow Park, a man standing outside his home was also struck by lightning and transported to the hospital, according to Blake Rexroat with the Parker County Hospital District. While lightning strikes are rare, officials emphasized they remain a serious threat. "Lightning is a top risk during a storm," Rexroat said. Authorities urge residents to stay weather-aware during severe weather events.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Lightning strike sets Clearwater home on fire
CLEARWATER, Fla. (WFLA) — A frightening thought as hurricane season begins, a Clearwater home was set on fire after being struck by lightning early Saturday morning. Residents were able to evacuate safely, and no injuries to civilians or firefighters were reported. Clearwater Fire & Rescue spokesman Rob Shaw said an initial investigation showed lightning strikes to the back deck of the home were likely the cause of the fire. Around two dozen rescue units were on scene and were able to control the fire quickly, preventing it from spreading to other areas of the home. According to an analysis done by Statista, Florida sees more lightning strikes than almost every other state in the U.S., topped only by Texas. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Climate
- The Independent
You're most likely to be struck by lightning in these states
There were more lightning strikes in Texas, Oklahoma, and Florida last year than anywhere else in the U.S., according to a report released by the weather data firm Vaisala Xweather. Texas was particularly active, recording more lightning events last year than Florida, Oklahoma, and Kansas combined. The Lone Star State saw more than 40 million strikes, whereas Florida and Oklahoma only had above 15 and 13 million, respectively. Furthermore, Texas was also home to all of the nation's top 10 counties for lightning strikes per square mile. Teague, Texas, was the most active city or town in the country, with 1,903 events occurring each square mile. The city of Orlando, which is a popular tourist destination and home to Florida's Disney World, came in second. When looking at strike density, however, the authors said Florida took the top spot. There were 91.4 events in the Sunshine State per square kilometer. Texas came in fifth, behind Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Arkansas. It may not come as a surprise that most of the incidents occurred in the spring, with April and May seeing the highest number. Tornado season typically runs from March through June. The report noted that the top dates for lightning occurred during periods of severe storms and tornado outbreaks. Texas and Florida were the states with the most people killed by lightning strikes between 2006 and 2021, according to the CDC, with more than 30 each. Alabama, North Carolina, Georgia, Missouri, Colorado and Arizona had between 16 and 30 each. In all, 444 people were killed by lightning across the U.S. during that period. The CDC says men are four times more likely to be hit by lightning than women; the average age to be struck is 37; and that about a third of lightning strikes occur indoors. Most deaths occur in July. Across the entire country, there were more than 209 million lightning strikes. Lightning is a giant spark of electricity in the atmosphere between clouds, the air, or the ground. The data was gathered using sensors that can detect and triangulate the two types of strikes: cloud-to-ground and in-cloud lightning strikes. In-cloud lightning is the most common, but cloud-to-ground lightning is a common cause of wildfires. Lightning is responsible for 56 percent of the total acres burned in the lower 48 states, according to U.S. Forest Service wildfire database. It can trigger wildfires, but wildfires can also result in their own weather systems that create lightning. With the impact of climate change, these fires are becoming more frequent and severe. Climate change is also expected to increase the frequency and number of lightning strikes. 'For every two lightning strikes you had at the beginning of the century, we will have three at the end of the century,' David Romps, a researcher at U.C. Berkeley, told The Guardian in 2014. About 40 million lightning strikes hit the ground in the U.S. every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The odds of being struck by a bolt are less than one in a million. For those who are, nearly 90 percent survive. But, seasonal and regional differences can affect that risk. Vaisala Xweather says people should take precautions and be aware of the risk. "Severe weather can be life-threatening. Putting the right safety measures in place can make all the difference in keeping people safe, getting from A to B on time, and ensuring renewable energy keeps flowing into the grid,' Senior Lightning Scientist Ryan Said said.
CTV News
4 days ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Severe thunderstorm watch issued for B.C. Interior
Lightning strikes in this file photo. ( A severe thunderstorm watch was issued for a swath of B.C.'s Southern Interior Thursday morning. The alert says conditions are favourable for severe thunderstorms to develop, which may produce strong wind gusts, large hail and heavy rain. Affected regions include all of the Okanagan, the Kootenays, Shuswap, Boundary and North Thompson. 'When thunder roars, go indoors! Lightning kills and injures Canadians every year,' the Environment Canada notice reads. 'Heavy rain can cause flash flooding and significant reductions to visibility.' The federal weather agency did not include an estimated time for the beginning or end of the thunderstorms.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
WATCH: Lightning strike, water spout caught on camera in central Florida
Some isolated weather events struck various parts of central Florida Monday. And a few of them were caught on camera. One of those was in Edgewater, where a homeowner's camera caught the moment lightning truck a tree outside the house. In Waterford Lakes in Orange County, a water spout blew through a pond in someone's backyard, tossing branches around and causing some roof damage. WFTV metrologist David Heckard said the National Weather Service confirmed it was a water spout. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
