How many lightning bolts hit the ground in the average storm around here?
In a typical 20-minute storm, there could be 100 or more. Why is this area known as the Lightning Capital of the nation? Between 1990 and 2003, there were 128 deaths caused by lightning, making Florida No. 1 in the country. Florida has 100 thunderstorms yearly, more than any other state. If you’re in a car in a storm, what should you do? Automobiles are pretty safe when it comes to lightning, said Nick Petro, senior forecaster for the National Weather Service in Ruskin. When lightning strikes an automobile, its goal is to connect to the earth as fast as it can. Since metal is a conductor, the lightning travels around the metal frame of the car and finds the lowest point to exit, usually the wheels. What percentage of lightning strikes are fatal? Ten percent. But once someone is struck, they are rarely the same. They have to deal with effects like memory loss, constant fatigue, weird sensations and nerve damage. When is the best time to seek shelter when a storm is approaching? When you
