Here are some interesting Thunder and Lightning facts can might save your life.

• Thunderstorms are most common in the spring and summer, but can occur anytime during the year. 
• The typical thunderstorm is 15 miles in diameter and lasts an average of 30 minutes. Nearly 1,800 thunderstorms are occurring at any moment around the world. 
• All thunderstorms produce lightning.  Lightning often strikes outside of heavy rain and may occur as far as 10 miles away from any rainfall. 
• Because light travels so much faster than sound, lightning flashes can be seen long before the resulting thunder is heard.  To estimate the number of miles you are from a thunderstorm, count the number of seconds between a flash of lightning and the next clap of thunder, then divide this number by five. 
• North Carolina ranks third in the nation in number of lightning-related deaths, and fourth in lightning-related injuries. 
• From 1959 through 1997, lightning caused 169 deaths in North Carolina: 36 in open places or ballparks; 25 under trees; 22 while boating, fishing or other water-related activities; 8 on golf courses; 1 while using the telephone; and 71 at various other and unknown locations. 
• From 1959 through 1997, there were 550 reported lightning-related injuries.  Lightning-strike victims carry no electrical charge and should be attended to immediately. 
• Lightning results from the buildup and discharge of electrical energy between positively and negatively charged areas. The action of rising and descending air within a thunderstorm separates positive and negative charges. 
• Most lightning occurs within the cloud or between cloud and ground.  A cloud-to-ground lightning strike begins as an invisible channel of electricity charged air moving from the cloud toward the ground.  When one channel nears an object on the ground, a powerful surge of electricity travels from the ground upward to the cloud, producing the visible lightning strike. 
• The average flash of lightning could light a 100-watt light bulb for more than three months.  
• The air near a lightning strike is heated to 50,000º F - hotter than the surface of the sun. The rapid heating and cooling of the air near the lightning channel causes a shock wave that results in thunder. 
• "Heat lightning" actually is lightning from a thunderstorm too far away from thunder to be heard.  However, the storm may be moving in your directions. 
• Severe thunderstorms can produce damaging winds as strong as a weak tornado and can be life threatening. 
• A severe thunderstorm can produce hail three-fourth of an inch in diameter or larger.  Large hail causes nearly $1 billion in damage to property and crops annually. 
• Large hailstones fall at speeds faster than 100 mph.

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