Lightning and Its Associated Hazards

Alex Voss

Corey Gannon

Katrina Murry

Emilia Teige

Nathan Christ

Introduction

Lightning is an extremely fascinating and elusive subject.  Although people are drawn to its beauty and uniqueness,

 lightning is a very dangerous form of weather.  Nearly 2,000 people worldwide are injured by lightning strikes per

year and between 25% to 30% of those struck die.  Closer to home, lightning kills 81 people a year, more than any

other type of severe weather, including tornadoes and floods (Changnon and Kunkel, 2006).  Although lightning is

a great wonder it is important to take necessary precautions to avoid this hazard.