Why Worry About Thunderstorms
By: Administrator
Updated: January 23, 2013
Lightning
- Causes an average of 55-60 fatalities and 400 injuries each year
- Occurs with all thunderstorms
- Costs more than $1 billion in insured losses each year
- Cause an average of 60-65 fatalities and 1,500 injuries each year
- Can produce wind speeds in excess of 200 mph
- Can be 1 mile wide and stay on the ground over 50 miles
- Can exceed 125 mph
- Can cause destruction equal to a tornado
- Are extremely dangerous to aviation
- Are the #1 cause of deaths associated with thunderstorms, more than 90 fatalities each year
- Can be larger than a softball (5 inches in diameter)
- Causes more than $1 billion in crop and property damage each year
