Florida Leads U.S. In Lightning Fatalities (Video)

CLEARWATER, FL — A Friday morning lightning strike in Clearwater that sent a 76-year-old man to the hospital stands as a reminder of how quickly Florida’s weather can take a hazardous turn. The state is once again leading the nation in the number of lightning-relating deaths.

According to the National Weather Service, there have been 13 lightning deaths across the country in 2017 so far. Florida accounts for five of those fatalities. Colorado, Alabama and North Carolina have each recorded two deaths. Single fatality reports have also come in from Ohio and Texas.

Get the Patch newsletter and alerts in your inbox.

The circumstances of the Florida deaths in 2017 so far are as follows:

• Jensen Beach – On May 17, a 46-year-old man was performing construction-related activities near a pool area when he was struck and killed.
• Pembroke Pines – On June 27, a 34-year-old man was on a construction site when he was hit and killed.
• Fort Myers – On June 29, a baby boy was killed while walking with his mother outside their home.
• Baker – On July 10, a 35-year-old man was struck by lightning while camping. The weather service says he was under a tree at the time.
• Satellite Beach – On July 28, a 35-year-old man was struck and killed while walking on a beach.

Florida led the nation in 2016 with 10 recorded lightning-related deaths. New York and Louisiana came in second with four deaths each. The Sunshine State also topped the country in lightning-related fatalities in 2015 with five. In 2014, there were six. Florida tied with Arizona in 2013 with four fatalities each, federal records show.

The weather service says there are about 30 deaths related to lightning reported each year. About 270 people are injured by struck. The odds of a person being struck over the course of an 80-year lifetime are about 1 in 13,500.

While overall lightning-related deaths across the country have been trending downward, Florida summers remain especially perilous. The video below shows lightning strikes as captured by surveillance cameras:

The Aug. 18 strike in Clearwater occurred on a golf course just after 11 a.m., according to the city's fire department. The man who was struck was hospitalized. Clearwater officials said late Friday afternoon that Frank Sink had been upgraded to fair condition following his run-in with the lightning bolt that struck him near the seventh hole at Clearwater Country Club.

Tips For Staying Safe When Lightning Strikes

The weather service has created a webpage dedicated to lightning safety and offers residents across the country these tips to stay safe in storms:

• Get inside
• Understand that if thunder is heard, lightning is close enough to strike
• Stay inside until at least 30 minutes after the last sound of thunder is heard
• Once inside, stay off corded phones, computers and other electronic equipment
• Avoid plumbing, including sinks, baths and faucets
• Steer clear of windows, doors and porches
• Do not lie on concrete floors or rest against concrete walls

For more information about lightning safety, visit the National Weather Service online.

Image via Shutterstock