USA saw fewest lightning deaths on record in 2013
Doyle Rice, USA TODAY 3:52 p.m. EST January 11, 2014
Twenty-three Americans died from lightning in 2013, the fewest since records began in 1940.
The year 2013 set a record for the fewest lightning deaths in a year in the USA. There were 23 fatalities directly attributed to lightning, according to data from the National Weather Service.
The previous record low was in 2011, which had 26 deaths. Accurate lightning death records go back 73 years to 1940.
“Florida and Arizona led the nation in 2013 lightning deaths with four each; followed by Texas, Illinois and Kentucky with two each,” said meteorologist and lightning expert John Jensenius of the weather service. “Nine other states contributed one death each.”
Florida usually sees the most deaths per year. In particular, central Florida is the lightning capital of the USA, typically having more than 100 days with thunderstorms each year.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/weather/2014/01/11/lightning-deaths-record-low/4411347/