Latest local news, weather and sports for Syracuse and Central New York

Friday, June 29, 2012  Lightning kills an average of 59 people and injures more than 300. While any death is tragic and devastating to the family, injuries can be equally tragic and even more devastating.

Thursday, June 28, 2012  Even if you are inside your house, you are still in danger from lightning. Read more for all of the details.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012  While no one can completely eliminate the risk of being struck by lightning, by using some basic safety rules you can greatly reduce your risk of becoming a lightning victim. Read more for details.

Monday, June 25, 2012  Because lightning only claims one or two victims at a time and does not leave massive destruction behind, it usually receives much less attention than the more destructive storm related killers.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010  By definition, all thunderstorms contain lightning.  Lightning is a giant spark of electricity that occurs within the atmosphere or between the atmosphere and the ground.  As lightning passes through the air, it rapidly heats the air to 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit, considerably hotter than the surface of the sun.

Monday, June 21, 2010  Lightning can strike up to 25 miles from the parent thunderstorm. If you hear thunder, you can be struck by lightning. Seek shelter immediately if you hear thunder.   During the last 30 years, lightning has killed an average of 59 people per year in the United States. By comparison, 55 people are killed by tornadoes, on average during a given year.