Historical estimate
Lightning strike in a year (US estimate)
- Probability:
- 8.18 × 10⁻⁵%
- Odds:
- 1 to (1.22 × 10⁶)
- dBan
- −60.9 dBan
Across the historical US estimate, about one person per 1,222,000 residents is struck by lightning in a year.
Calculation
p ≈ 1 / 1,222,000 from annual strikes divided by population
Assumptions
The estimate uses 2009–2018 strike averages and the 2019 US population. A person’s location, work, and time outdoors can change their risk greatly.
Sources
- US National Weather Service: lightning odds historical estimate