Only 28 lightning deaths were reported in 2012 — one the safest years in many decades. Urban growth is being cited as a factor. — Click to Tweet.
While 28 deaths may sound like a lot, this actually represents one of the safest years for lightning deaths in years. The number of lightning deaths have been on a steady decline since the 1940’s. Before 1940, there was an average of 300 lightning-related deaths per year.
Even though the population has continued to balloon since the 1940’s, which would conceivably mean more chances for lightning deaths, researchers believe that people are becoming more knowledgeable on lightning safety. This knowledge has helped lightning deaths to become less common; in fact, lighting deaths only accounted for 20.1 percent of storm deaths between 1982 and 2011.
When Thunder Roars, Head Indoors
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has attempted to keep track of the curve of lightning strikes, but because lightning is so unpredictable, it’s a tough gig.
While the number of lightning deaths have been on the decline, there have been a couple years when the number of deaths would ebb and flow. Still, these changes don’t stop the NOAA from attempting to give an educated guess for the number of lightning-related deaths. If the numbers don’t fluctuate too much, the NOAA predicts that there should be around 54 lightning related deaths this year.
The NOAA contributes the shrinking number of lightning related deaths to the urbanization of the world. Back in the 1940’s, it was more common for people to work on farms and live in wide open spaces. These days, people can take cover indoors and wait out the storm. But while it has become easier to avoid lightning, it isn’t always possible. But that is why the NOAA advises, “When thunder roars, head indoors.”
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