Here are the new U.S. lightning capitals based on 2024 data
Shocking moment: Lightning strikes police cruiser in Oklahoma storm
A police cruiser in Newcastle, Oklahoma, was struck by lightning as severe storms swept through the area. (Credit: Newcastle Oklahoma Police Department)
The annual lightning report is out and there's a new list of lightning capitals in the U.S.
Lightning strikes some 25 million times a year in the United States and kills an average of 47 people, according to the National Weather Service.
Different types of lightning
Dig deeper:
Vaisala Weather said there are two types of lightning: In-cloud is where it can extend hundreds of kilometers and occur in multiple clouds. Cloud-to-ground lightning is when the bolt touches the ground or an object.
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How is lightning counted?
Lightning count is defined as how many lightning strikes you see where has lightning density focuses more on how many lightning strikes per km2.
Where lightning strikes the most in the US
According to Vaisala Weather, Texas, Florida, Oklahoma, Kansas and Louisiana are among the top states with the most lightning strikes.
Breaking down into cities: Teague, Texas; Kingsland, Georgia; Orlando, Florida; Fordland, Missouri; Ralston, Oklahoma.
What to do when lightning occurs
What you can do:
If you are outdoors and hear thunder, move as quickly as possible to a "substantial" building that has electricity or plumbing, or an enclosed, metal-topped vehicle with the windows completely up, the National Weather Service advises.
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If indoors, stay off corded phones, computers and other electronic equipment that provide direct contact with electricity.
In addition to avoiding plumbing such as sinks, baths and faucets, officials recommend staying away from windows and doors — and not lying on concrete floors or leaning on concrete walls.
Lightning strike causes delay for British Airways flight from Brazil to London
A British Airways plane was struck by lightning amid stormy weather in São Paulo on January 24, causing safety checks that delayed takeoff by several hours, according to flight data. (Credit: Bernhard Warr via Storyful)
For those caught outside with no safe shelter available, officials offer the following tips to help reduce the risk of being struck.
Never lie flat on the ground or shelter under an isolated tree.
Never take shelter on a cliff or rocky underhang.
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Stay off elevated areas.
When thunderstorms approach, get out of and stay away from bodies of water.
Stay away from objects that conduct electricity, such as power lines and barbwire fences.
The Source: FOX News and FOX Weather contributed to this report. The information in this story comes primarily from the annual lightning report released by Vaisala Xweather, which tracks lightning activity and density across the United States. This story was reported from Los Angeles.