With the summer months just beginning, thunderstorms can develop quickly.
One of the biggest dangers thunderstorms bring is lightning strikes.
June 24 is Wisconsin Lightning Safety Awareness Day, and ReadyWisconsin encourages everyone to learn how to stay safe and be prepared before storms occur.
Wisconsin Emergency Management Administrator Greg Engle notes that “Lightning is not just a seasonal or regional threat. It can occur in any state, at any time of day, and in any season. By understanding the risks and taking precautions, everyone can reduce injuries and fatalities caused by lightning.”
According to the National Lightning Safety Council, 12 people were killed by lightning in the United States and its territories in 2024.
At least three people have been killed by lightning strikes in the U.S. so far this year.
Since 2006, there have been 10 lightning-related deaths in Wisconsin.
The most recent lightning-related death reported in Wisconsin was in Minocqua in September of 2016.
