Lightning is the number two severe-weather-related killer in the United States. Yes, that means lightning kills more people than tornadoes and hurricanes. The lightning danger was apparent Wednesday morning across parts of Northeast Kansas.

During the early morning hours of Wednesday, areas along U.S. Hwy. 75 saw incredible lightning rates at up to 3-4,000 strikes per hour. Rates this high are very dangerous. You need to take extra precaution when lightning is this vivid.

There is little to no way of preparing for a lightning strike. Yes, some claim a few seconds of a “hair-raising” sensation as the electrical charge builds before a strike. Again, that only leaves seconds to prepare, if you can. Your best bet to stay safe from the deadly force of lightning is to go inside, away from electrical appliances and windows.

Anything that grounds an electrical charge is “no-no” during a thunderstorm. These grounding sources can be targets long after you “think” the storm has passed. Lightning has been known to strike at a distance of up to 30 miles from the parent storm itself. That’s why we often say to wait 30 minutes or so — after the last rumble of thunder — before you begin to use electrical appliances, or go outside again.

A storm does not need to be severe in order for it to be dangerous. While us Kansans certainly know a lot about storms; rarely, do we see a lightning show quite like what Hwy. 75 saw, Wednesday morning.

Let’s hear your lightning stories. Did you see the lightning Wednesday morning? Did you hear the thunder? What’s the worst lightning storm you have ever seen? Do you think lightning was a lot worse many years ago (one of my relatives says that the electrical storms were much more vivid many, many years ago)? I would love to hear your thoughts.