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10 Crazy Facts About Lightning

Lightning is a natural phenomenon formed by the occurrence of lightning bolts, which are electrostatic discharges through the atmosphere between two electrically charged regions, either both in the atmosphere or with one in the atmosphere and on the ground, temporarily neutralizing these in a near-instantaneous release of an average of one gigajoule of energy.

This discharge may produce a wide range of electromagnetic radiation, from the heat created by the rapid movement of electrons to brilliant flashes of visible light in black-body radiation. Let’s delve into the 10 crazy facts about Lightning.

1. Lightning Bolts Can Be Extremely Hot

Lightning bolts can reach temperatures of around 30,000 degrees Celsius, which is about five times hotter than the surface of the sun.

This discharge may produce a wide range of electromagnetic radiation, from the heat created by the rapid movement of electrons to brilliant flashes of visible light in black-body radiation.

2. Lightning causes Thunderstorms

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Thunder is a sound from the shock wave which develops as gases in the vicinity of the discharge experience a sudden increase in pressure. 

Lightning occurs commonly during thunderstorms as well as other types of energetic weather systems, but volcanic lightning can also occur during volcanic eruptions.  Read more scary facts about Thunderstorms. 

3. Lightning travels at a crazy speed of approximately 360,000 kilometers per hour

Electrons accelerate rapidly as a result in a zone beginning at the point of attachment, which expands across the entire leader network at up to one-third of the speed of light. The rate at which the return stroke current travels has been found to be around 100,000 km/s. 

4. When lightning strikes a person, it leaves Lichtenberg figures on their body

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A Lichtenberg figure is a branching electric discharge that sometimes appears on the surface or in the interior of insulating materials. Lichtenberg figures are often associated with the progressive deterioration of high-voltage components and equipment. 

When lightning strikes and temporarily burns the skin of a person, it can leave these intricate, tree-like patterns known as Lichtenberg figures on their body.

5. Lightning can strike the same place multiple times in quick succession

Although sometimes used figuratively as above, the idea that lightning never strikes the same place twice is a common myth. In fact, lightning can, and often does, strike the same place more than once. 

Lightning in a thunderstorm is more likely to strike objects and spots that are more prominent or conductive. For instance, lightning strikes the Empire State Building in New York City on average 23 times per year.

6. The place on earth where lightning occurs most often is over Lake Maracaibo

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The Catatumbo lightning phenomenon produces 250 bolts of lightning a day. This activity occurs on average, 297 days a year. Catatumbo means House of Thunder in the language of the Bari people. It originates from a mass of storm clouds at an altitude of more than 1 km and occurs for 140 to 160 nights a year, nine hours per day, and with lightning flashes from 16 to 40 times per minute.

It occurs over and around Lake Maracaibo, typically over a bog area formed where the Catatumbo River flows into the lake. The phenomenon sees the highest density of lightning in the world, at 250 per km2.

7. Lightning is the most common natural cause of wildfires

A significant number of wildfires are ignited by lightning strikes. In some regions, lightning is responsible for starting around half of all wildfires.

Dry lightning is lightning that occurs with no precipitation at the surface and is the most common natural cause of wildfires.

8. Lightning has been observed on other planets in the solar system

, Attribution, via Wikimedia Commons

Lightning has been observed within the atmospheres of other planets, such as Jupiter, Saturn, and probably Uranus and Neptune. 

Lightning on Jupiter is far more energetic than on Earth, despite seeming to be generated via the same mechanism. Lightning on Venus has been a controversial subject after decades of study.  Read more facts about the Solar System. 

9. Airplanes have been observed to trigger lightning strikes

Airplanes contrails have also been observed to influence lightning to a small degree. The water vapor-dense contrails of airplanes may provide a lower resistance pathway through the atmosphere having some influence upon the establishment of an ionic pathway for a lightning flash to follow.

10. Lightning is responsible for around 2,000 deaths worldwide annually

The deadliest single direct lightning strike occurred when 21 people died as they huddled for safety in a hut that was hit in 1975 in  Zimbabwe.  The deadliest single indirect lightning strike was the 1994 Dronka lightning strike. 469 people died when lightning struck a set of oil tanks in 1994, causing burning oil to flood a town in 1994, in Dronka, Egypt.  In the United States, an average of 23 people died from lightning per year from 2012 to 2021.

From the facts stated above, Lightning is a natural phenomenon which we need to be aware of and take the necessary precautions to protect ourselves from. This especially follows from the statistics given about the annual death toll from lightning strikes.