Some of the most severe weather occurs when a single thunderstorm affects one location for an extended period of time. To protect yourself in a severe thunderstorm, get inside a sturdy building and stay tuned to a battery-operated radio for weather information. Lightning is an electrical discharge that results from the buildup of static electricity within clouds, or between clouds and the ground. It always accompanies a thunderstorm. This flash of light can remain within the clouds, occur between clouds, or strike toward the ground several miles from the parent cloud.
Lightning is a major threat during a thunderstorm.
In the United States, between 75 and 100 Americans are hit and killed each year by lightning. If you are caught outdoors, avoid natural lightning rods such as tall, isolated trees in an open area and metal objects such as wire fences, golf clubs, and metal tools. It is a myth that lightning never strikes twice in the same place. In fact, lightning has favorite sites that it will strike several times in the course of one storm. While thunderstorms and lightning can be found throughout the United States, they are most likely to occur in the central and southern states.