Because lightning usually claims only one or two victims at a time, and because lightning does not cause the mass destruction left in the wake of tornadoes or hurricanes, this natural hazard generally receives much less attention than the more destructive weather-related killers. That may partially explain why people often don't react promptly to the threat of being struck when thunderstorms are nearby.

Education could be the key to solving the problem of risky behavior that leads to people being struck by lightning. That is the purpose of Lightning Safety Awareness Week.

Lightning striking a tree

Lightning results from the buildup and release of electrical energy between positive and negative charges between the earth and a thunderstorm. A single lightning bolt can be as hot as 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit - hotter even than the surface of the sun. This rapid heating and cooling of the air creates a shock wave which we hear as thunder. Lightning will usually strike the highest object in area. This includes trees, antennas, a boat on a lake, or a person standing in a field.