Lightning must be one of the most exciting, and least understood weather phenomena we experience here on earth. Anvil crawler lightning, seen in the photograph below, branches out from the anvil cloud or the most mature part of the thunderstorm as far as 90 miles from its leader origin. Florida produces amazing electrical storms leading to last minute storm chases and awe-inspiring scenes that are truly mesmerizing. On Average, Florida sees 3,500 cloud-ground lightning strikes per day, and 1.2 million flashes per year. It is easy to get caught up in the beauty of these storms, but they are as dangerous as as they are stunning. Floridians especially must be aware of this. Florida has the highest amount of lightning fatalities in the United States every year. It is a great reminder that our environment can and will impose its power upon us if we do not show the necessary respect.
Best,
MF
