18,220
Recorded events
2,505
Counties affected
963
Direct deaths
$1.1B
Property damage
18,220 lightning events are recorded across 2,505 U.S. counties between 1996 and 2026.
Systematic records for this hazard begin in 1996 — earlier gaps reflect reporting practice, not calm weather.
Most affected
Top counties for lightning
| Rank | County | Events | Deaths | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Pinellas County, Florida | 175 | 9 | $11.5M |
| #2 | Broward County, Florida | 133 | 18 | $2.4M |
| #3 | Gwinnett County, Georgia | 129 | 5 | $15.0M |
| #4 | Duval County, Florida | 110 | 4 | $1.9M |
| #5 | Hillsborough County, Florida | 108 | 9 | $6.0M |
| #6 | Santa Rosa County, Florida | 106 | 2 | $1.4M |
| #7 | Tarrant County, Texas | 90 | 4 | $12.1M |
| #8 | Palm Beach County, Florida | 83 | 10 | $20.6M |
| #9 | Sussex County, Delaware | 80 | 0 | $4.0M |
| #10 | Pima County, Arizona | 78 | 3 | $1.2M |
| #11 | Ocean County, New Jersey | 78 | 5 | $1.8M |
| #12 | Worcester County, Massachusetts | 75 | 0 | $3.0M |
| #13 | Miami-Dade County, Florida | 72 | 8 | $644K |
| #14 | Harris County, Texas | 72 | 11 | $7.1M |
| #15 | Madison County, Alabama | 69 | 4 | $3.1M |
| #16 | Beaufort County, South Carolina | 66 | 3 | $3.7M |
| #17 | Bucks County, Pennsylvania | 65 | 0 | $3.6M |
| #18 | Collin County, Texas | 65 | 0 | $13.3M |
| #19 | Monmouth County, New Jersey | 64 | 7 | $2.4M |
| #20 | Mobile County, Alabama | 63 | 3 | $3.5M |
| #21 | San Bernardino County, California | 63 | 3 | $1.4M |
| #22 | Middlesex County, Massachusetts | 63 | 1 | $2.9M |
| #23 | Maricopa County, Arizona | 62 | 2 | $3.2M |
| #24 | Northampton County, Pennsylvania | 60 | 1 | $2.5M |
| #25 | Waukesha County, Wisconsin | 59 | 1 | $5.8M |