Lightning Facts

Men are struck by lightning five times more often than women.

In 1939, 835 sheep were killed by a single lightning strike in Utah.

n 1998, all 11 members of a soccer team in Africa were killed by lightning while leaving the other team unhurt.

A bolt of lightning contains enough energy to toast 160,000 pieces of bread.

About 24,000 people are killed by lightning strikes around the world each year.

In 1752, Benjamin Franklin proved that lightning is electricity by flying a silk kite in a thunderstorm. He saw sparks shoot from a key on a ribbon he was holding.

Lightning tends to strike tall structures, which is why it's dangerous to seek shelter under tall trees in a storm.

Lightning always takes the easiest path from cloud to ground.

A storm is about one mile away for every five seconds difference between hearing thunder and seeing a lightning flash.

As a lightning bolt flashes, the air expands at supersonic speed, making the sound of thunder.