3 of the 10 states with the most lightning strikes are near Memphis

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Now that summer is here, tornado season is behind us and a new, extremely dangerous type of severe weather has emerged: lightning.

Mississippi, Arkansas and Tennessee are among the ten states with the most lightning strikes.

“The most important thing we tell people is: If you’re outside, try to get inside,” said Amber Schlessiger of the National Weather Service-Memphis.

Lightning occurs when rising air during thunderstorms separates positive and negative charges in the air. When the difference becomes too great – BOOM.

“There are things that are called lightning out of the blue, but lightning can actually come out of a thundercloud and strike in areas where it’s not raining,” said Aaron Treadway, a lightning expert with the National Weather Service.

This happened to Jacob Brewer, who was hit by a car while on a family vacation in Florida.

“We were on the beach and were about to leave when I got hit. I was just unconscious and the next thing I remember is being in the hospital,” Brewer said.

While bystanders were performing CPR, the storm began to brew.

“There was so much lightning around us, it kept striking the sand. You could smell it burning the sand,” said Barbara Brewer, Jacob’s mother.

Jacob had to spend ten days in hospital before he recovered. He was paralyzed from the waist down and suffered permanent neurological damage.

So remember to find a stable shelter and wait at least 30 minutes after the last lightning strike. Trees and partial structures such as shelters are not safe. When in doubt, remember the saying:

“If there is thunder, go into the house, and if you see lightning, run inside,” Treadway said.