Lightning deaths in U.S. hit all-time low

Deaths by lightning hit an all-time low in 2017, the National Weather Service said this week.


Lightning killed a total of 16 people in the United States, the lowest number since records began in 1940, USA Today reported. That total broke the previous record low of 23 deaths, which was set in 2013.

"While we don't like to see any lightning deaths, the continuing downward trend in yearly fatalities is encouraging," John Jensenius, a NWS lightning safety specialist, told reporters, according to LiveScience.

Fifteen of the 16 deaths were males and one was female, setting new record lows for lightning deaths by gender.
 (UPI)