How to stay safe during lightning storms – summer is the highest-risk season

(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)

Chris Vagasky, University of Wisconsin-Madison

(THE CONVERSATION) As the weather warms, people spend more time outdoors, going to barbecues, beaches and ballgames. But summer isn’t just the season of baseball and outdoor festivals – it’s also lightning season.

Each year in the United States, lightning strikes around 37 million times. It kills 21 people a year in the U.S. on average.

For as often as lightning occurs – there are only a few days each year nationwide without lightning – there are still a lot of misunderstandings about nature’s largest spark. Because of this, a lot of people take unnecessary risks when thunderstorms are nearby.

I am a meteorologist who studies lightning and lightning safety, and a member of the National Lightning Safety Council. Here are some fast facts to keep your family and friends safe this summer:

What is lightning, and where does it come from?

Lightning is a giant electric spark in the atmosphere and is classified based on whether it...