Getting struck by lightning is something most people think will likely never happen to them. However, your home getting hit by lightning is actually more common than you might realize. Here’s an overview of how rare lightning strikes on homes really are.
Quick Facts on Lightning Strikes
- About 25 million lightning strikes hit the ground in the United States each year
- Around 300 people are injured by lightning in the U.S. annually
- Approximately 20-30 people are killed by lightning strikes each year in the U.S.
- Only about 10% of people who are struck by lightning are killed
While lightning can happen anywhere, lightning strikes are most common in Florida, which sees over 1.5 million strikes per year. Other states with high lightning activity include Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, and Oklahoma.
Likelihood of a Home Being Struck
According to the National Weather Service, the odds of a single home being struck by lightning in any given year are about 1 in 500,000. That means lightning will strike a home once every 500,000 years on average.
However, this doesn’t mean that once your home is hit, you’re safe for the next 500,000 years. Each year brings a new 1 in 500,000 chance. It’s just that on average across many years, 1 in 500,000 is the annual odds.
Factors That Increase Lightning Strike Risk
While the 1 in 500,000 figure is the overall average annual risk, certain factors can make a lightning strike more likely for a specific home:
- Location – Homes in areas with frequent thunderstorms like Florida and the Southeast have higher risk.
- Elevation – Structures on hills or mountains are more prone to strikes.
- Tall trees – Trees taller than the house can be hit and conduct current to the home.
- Rural areas – Homes in open fields have higher risk than city dwellers.
- Metal construction – Metal roofing and siding can attract strikes.
Conversely, lightning risks are lower in areas of low thunderstorm activity, for homes surrounded by taller buildings in cities, and for structures without much metal.
Steps to Protect Your Home
While the odds of a lightning strike on your house are fairly low, it’s smart to take precautions. Here are some ways you can reduce the risk:
- Install a lightning rod system on your roof to direct current into the ground.
- Make sure your home has a properly grounded electrical system.
- Consider installing a whole house surge protector.
- Unplug electronics and avoid using landline phones during storms.
- Trim back any trees around your home so they are lower than the roof.
Taking preventative measures can greatly reduce lightning risks. But it’s still important to seek shelter any time a thunderstorm is approaching, just to be safe.
Lightning Strike Statistics
To help visualize the frequency of lightning strikes, here are some key statistics for the U.S.:
| Statistic | Number |
| Annual lightning strikes nationwide | 25 million |
| Annual injuries from lightning | 300 |
| Annual deaths from lightning | 20-30 |
| Percent of lightning strike victims killed | 10% |
| Annual lightning strikes in Florida | Over 1.5 million |
| Odds of any home being struck in a year | 1 in 500,000 |
Lightning Fatality Rates by State
Some states see more lightning deaths than others. Here are the states with the highest lightning fatality rates per million people from 1959 to 2003:
| State | Lightning Deaths Per Million |
| Wyoming | 60 |
| Colorado | 28 |
| New Mexico | 27 |
| Florida | 25 |
| Arkansas | 24 |
Conclusion
Your house getting directly hit by lightning is still a rare occurrence, with an average annual probability of just 1 in 500,000 across the United States. But steps can be taken to reduce that risk even further. With proper lightning protections and precautions, you can avoid becoming one of the approximately 20-30 Americans who are unlucky enough to be killed by lightning strikes each year.