Lightning Hazards

Lightning Hazards

RISK LEVEL	HAZARD DESCRIPTION
Low	Thunderstorms are expected to be isolated in coverage. Atmosphereic conditions support occasional cloud to ground lightning strikes
Moderate	Thunderstorms are expected to be scattered in coverage. Atmosphereic conditions support frequent cloud to ground lightning strikes
High	Thunderstorms are expected to be numerous in coverage. Atmosphereic conditions support excessive cloud to ground lightning strikes.

The existing NWS WFO Newport/Morehead City Graphical Hazards have been discontinued due to technical issues. A new version of these hazards graphics is under development and will be implemented once it has passed an internal testing period. This will hopefully come in 2016, but we cannot estimate when at this time. We regret the inconvenience and hope you found the previous version of this webpage and graphics useful. We hope you will find the new version of this webpage just as useful when it comes online.

General Information

A lightning strike is an electrical current between the cloud and ground. Each spark of lightning can reach over five miles in length, soar to temperatures of approximately 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit, and contain 100 million electrical volts.

All thunderstorms produce lightning and are dangerous.

Lightning kills an average of 54 people each year in the United States!

If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning!