lightning
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An Austin woman who was found dead on Sept. 25 in Travis County has been ruled death by a lightning strike.

Michelle Ann Wolfe, 37, was discovered by a runner around 5:36 p.m. on River Place Boulevard in west Travis County. The Travis County Sheriff's Office says there were no signs of foul play.

Detectives said a fallen tree limb near Wolfe's body appeared to have been burned. The Travis County Medical Examiner's Office has determined she died accidentally by a lightning strike.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says there has been an average of 51 lightning strike deaths each year in the U.S. over the past 20 years.

KXAN meteorologist David Yeomans reported that July is the deadliest month relating to lightning strikes in the U.S. The National Weather Service reported 11 lightning-related deaths across the country during the span of two weeks in July this year.

Two years ago an Austin 9-year-old boy was hit by lighting during soccer practice. It took months for Alex Hermann to recover in the hospital, but he was finally able to make it home in time for Christmas. Hermann was believed to have been hit by an isolated lightning strike located a distance away from the parent thunderstorm.

Lightning strikes have been known to occur more than 25 miles from a thunderstorm.