Lying near the Equator, the weather is hot and humid almost all year round. Conditions are favourable for the development of lightning producing thunderstorm clouds. While most lightning strike the ground harmlessly, their destructive power can be tremendous. Lightning can ignite forest fires, damage electronic equipment, disrupt electrical power and telecommunication systems.
Lightning also cause damage to trees in parks and gardens.
There are 2 major causes of injuries and deaths from lightning. The person becomes a convenient conductor for the electric current to the ground and hence is injured or killed. In Singapore, records on lightning fatalities show an average of 1.7 deaths per million population as compared to 0.6 in the United States, 0.2 in the United Kingdom and 1.5 in South Africa. Also deaths from lightning are higher in April and November. The victims were often in open areas such as sea, beaches and football fields.