Latest news with #Jensenius
USA Today
22-06-2025
- Climate
- USA Today
People keep being struck by lightning: 4 reports in about 24 hours
The lightning injuries occur just as the 25th annual National Lightning Safety Awareness Week kicks off on June 22. At least four people were struck by lightning over a time span of roughly 24 hours on June 19 and 20 as summer thunderstorms pummeled parts of the nation. A 15-year-old boy survived being struck by lightning in Central Park in New York City on the afternoon of June 19, according to reports by Accuweather and media outlets in the area. The following day, on June 20, three men experienced jolts in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, on the state's east-central coast. A 29-year-old Colorado man standing in the ocean in ankle deep water around 12:30 p.m. was critically injured by a lightning strike, according to Tammy Malphurs, director of Volusia County Beach Safety Ocean Rescue. A bystander and lifeguards immediately started life-saving measures, but the victim was unresponsive when taken from the scene to a local hospital, authorities said. Later that afternoon, about eight miles inland, two men on the Venetian Bay golf course were jolted when lightning struck nearby, but neither of them were taken to the hospital, according to WESH 2, a local television station The lightning injuries occur just as the 25th annual National Lightning Safety Awareness Week kicks off on June 22. 'It's a good time to remember the dangers that exist,' said John Jensenius, lightning specialist with the National Lightning Safety Council. 'We are about to enter the peak of the lightning season across the U.S.,' Jensenius said. 'With the increased lightning activity and the increase in people enjoying outdoor activities, we typically see an increase in lightning fatalities from late June through August." On June 8, Spencer Loalbo, a 41-year-old father of three and his father were golfing in Gunter, Texas when they were hit by a single bolt from a single storm cloud, authorities said, according to NBC 5 in Dallas. Loalbo was killed in the "blink of an eye" stated a Go Fund Me fundraiser set up for his wife and daughters. His father was critically injured and taken to a hospital. Spencer Loalbo's death was the third lightning fatality in the U.S. this year. The leading cause of lightning deaths is fishing, and it's already responsible for two lightning deaths this year, USA TODAY previously reported. Lightning strikes on golf courses are tied with yard work for 11th place on the list of activities responsible for the most lightning deaths, Jensenius said. Forty-two lightning deaths have been reported in Texas since 2006, second only to Florida, where 93 deaths have been attributed to lightning over the same time span. Several hundred people are injured by lightning each year. Most survive, but many have lifelong neurological symptoms. If you're going to be outside, it's important to remain alert for changing weather conditions, according to the Safety Council and National Weather Service. Plan in advance where you would seek shelter, and if you hear thunder, go indoors. How do people get struck by lightning? In one of four ways: Where can you shelter if caught outside? Learn more about lightning: Contributing: Patricio G. Balona and Sheldon Gardner, Daytona Beach News-Journal, USA TODAY Network, and Doyle Rice, USA TODAY.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Most fatal lightning strikes kill people doing this routine activity
There's danger out on the water. Already this spring, two Americans have been struck and killed by lightning, both while fishing from a boat. It's a surprisingly dangerous activity: "Fishing leads to more lightning deaths in the U.S. than any other activity," said lightning safety expert John Jensenius of the National Lightning Safety Council. Since 2006, there have been a total of 44 lightning deaths linked to fishing, he said. Just this week, April 22, a man was killed in Rankin County, Mississippi, while fishing from a boat on a reservoir. And last week, a man near Jacksonville, North Carolina, was struck by lightning, also while fishing from a boat. He later died as a result of the incident. Fishing is dangerous during a lightning storm "in part, because it often requires extra time to get to a safe place," Jensenius said. "It's vitally important for anyone who is fishing, especially from a boat, to closely monitor weather conditions and head to safety at the first signs of a developing or approaching storm." Of those 44 people killed by lightning while fishing, 41 were men. That's not unusual: On average, some 80% of lightning fatalities are men. Lightning deaths in the United States are dramatically lower than they were decades ago. How dramatic? Eighty-two years ago, in 1943, 432 people died after being struck by lightning. And that wasn't unusual for the 1940s, when several hundred people were typically killed each year, according to the National Weather Service. As recently as 2001, when a national lightning safety campaign began, the U.S. still averaged 55 lightning deaths a year. Now the average is down to 21, said Jensenius. More: Don't listen to this common thunderstorm safety advice Here are some tips for fishing if lightning threatens: ∎ Before going fishing or out on the water in a boat, always check the weather and consider postponing the outing if thunderstorms are forecast.∎ If you do go out, if possible, monitor radar or lightning data on your phone.∎ Listen for distant thunder. Keep a watchful eye on the sky. Be aware that the sound of the motor may make it difficult to hear thunder.∎ Be ready to get to safety immediately at the first sign of an approaching or developing storm. Always account for the amount of time it will take to get to shore and to a safe place. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lightning strike deaths occur most often during this activity
USA Today
25-04-2025
- Climate
- USA Today
Most fatal lightning strikes kill people doing this routine activity
Most fatal lightning strikes kill people doing this routine activity Already this spring, two in the U.S. have been struck and killed by lightning, both while fishing from a boat. Show Caption Hide Caption The dangers of dry thunderstorms during wildfire season People hope for rain to slow the spread of wildfires. It's easy to rejoice if you see a developing thunderstorm, but don't be fooled by a dry thunderstorm. AccuWeather Fishing is the leading cause of lightning strike deaths in the U.S., with 44 fatalities since 2006. The time it takes to reach safety while fishing, especially from a boat, contributes to the risk. Men are disproportionately affected by lightning strikes, accounting for 80% of fatalities. There's danger out on the water. Already this spring, two Americans have been struck and killed by lightning, both while fishing from a boat. It's a surprisingly dangerous activity: "Fishing leads to more lightning deaths in the U.S. than any other activity," said lightning safety expert John Jensenius of the National Lightning Safety Council. Since 2006, there have been a total of 44 lightning deaths linked to fishing, he said. Just this week, April 22, a man was killed in Rankin County, Mississippi, while fishing from a boat on a reservoir. And last week, a man near Jacksonville, North Carolina, was struck by lightning, also while fishing from a boat. He later died as a result of the incident. Why is fishing so dangerous? Fishing is dangerous during a lightning storm "in part, because it often requires extra time to get to a safe place," Jensenius said. "It's vitally important for anyone who is fishing, especially from a boat, to closely monitor weather conditions and head to safety at the first signs of a developing or approaching storm." Of those 44 people killed by lightning while fishing, 41 were men. That's not unusual: On average, some 80% of lightning fatalities are men. Lightning used to kill a lot more people Lightning deaths in the United States are dramatically lower than they were decades ago. How dramatic? Eighty-two years ago, in 1943, 432 people died after being struck by lightning. And that wasn't unusual for the 1940s, when several hundred people were typically killed each year, according to the National Weather Service. As recently as 2001, when a national lightning safety campaign began, the U.S. still averaged 55 lightning deaths a year. Now the average is down to 21, said Jensenius. More: Don't listen to this common thunderstorm safety advice Lightning safety tips when fishing Here are some tips for fishing if lightning threatens: ∎ Before going fishing or out on the water in a boat, always check the weather and consider postponing the outing if thunderstorms are forecast.∎ If you do go out, if possible, monitor radar or lightning data on your phone.∎ Listen for distant thunder. Keep a watchful eye on the sky. Be aware that the sound of the motor may make it difficult to hear thunder.∎ Be ready to get to safety immediately at the first sign of an approaching or developing storm. Always account for the amount of time it will take to get to shore and to a safe place.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Recent deaths highlight the danger of fishing during lightning
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — At least two lightning deaths have been reported in the U.S. in the last two weeks and both incidents were related to fishing. The first lightning-related death took place on April 11 in Jacksonville, North Carolina. A 39-year-old man was reportedly struck by lightning while fishing from a boat with his son and friends. He later died as a result of the incident. 📧 Have breaking news come to you: → Meanwhile, the second death took place on April 22 when a 68-year-old man was reportedly fishing from a boat on a reservoir in Rankin County, Mississippi when he was struck and killed by lightning. The incidents are a stark reminder of the dangers of lightning while out on a boat. 'Fishing is the activity that leads to the most lighting deaths in the United States,' said Johnson Jensenius, a lightning specialist with the National Lightning Safety Council. 'In fact, since 2006, we have now seen 44 lightning deaths related to fishing activities. Boating also leads to quite a few fatalities. We've seen 25 fatalities for boating. So, between fishing and boating, a total of 69 fatalities since 2006.' 'The most important thing to know is that if you are going out on a boat, you should monitor weather conditions before you go out,' Jensenius advised. If storms in the forecast, consider canceling or postponing the activity. If you do go out, monitor weather conditions, keep an eye on the sky, and if you hear thunder, you need to get to a safe place right away. Want the forecast delivered directly to your inbox? Sign up for the News 2 Forecast Newsletter Keep in mind when you are out there, you do need to account for the amount of time it's going to take you to get back and to get into a safe place. 'You can only hear lightning about ten miles out from a storm, and lightning can strike outward ten miles,' Jensenius explained. 'So, if you are hearing thunder, even a distant rumble, you are within striking distance of the storm. People often wait too long to get to safety, and that puts them in a dangerous and potentially deadly situation.' ⏩ Take advantage of modern technology. Have an app on your phone that monitors radar and lightning data. Our News 2 Weather App will notify you when lightning is in your area. So, let's have a safe fishing season, and when the thunder roars, get off of the lake and indoors. Don't forget to take the power and reliability of the WKRN Weather Authority with you at all times by downloading the News 2 Storm Tracker app. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
