© NOAA There have been 22 deaths in 2016 caused by lightning, including two in Alabama.
Thunderstorms are a part of life in Alabama in the summertime.
While they can provide a temporary cooldown from sweltering temperatures โ they can also bring a danger that is often overlooked: lightning.
There have been 22 deaths from lightning in 2016, the most recent on Friday on Florida's Okaloosa Island.
In comparison, there have been 12 deaths this year from tornadoes.
Florida leads the nation with a total of six deaths from lightning. Next is Louisiana with four. Alabama, Mississippi and North Carolina have two each. Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Missouri, Tennessee and Virginia have one apiece.
© NOAA
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