Beware the many lightning strikes in Missouri, Kansas
It’s storm season in the Midwest, and the National Weather Service of Kansas City is reminding us this week of the danger of lightning strikes.
According to the weather service, Missouri ranks sixth in the nation for average lighting strikes per square mile at 15.9. Kansas ranks 13th with 12.7 strikes.
As part of Lightning Safety Awareness Week, the weather service has been tweeting tips and information.
In the last 10 years, 17 people have been killed by lightning in Missouri and Kansas.
Fact: In the last 10 years, 17 people have been killed in MO and KS by lightning. #lightningsafety pic.twitter.com/hxAMMxGjcz
— NWS Kansas City (@NWSKansasCity) June 23, 2014To avoid dangerous situations in storms, the weather service advised people to go indoors.
Missouri and Kansas both average more than a million lightning strikes per year, with the Missouri average at 1,103,063 and Kansas at 1,046,885.
This information could come as a good warning this week, with a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms Tuesday night through Thursday.
This story was originally published June 23, 2014 at 11:11 AM with the headline "Beware the many lightning strikes in Missouri, Kansas."