An intense thunderstorm affected the far south east of England last night. Lightning rates of 200 to 300 per minute were recorded in Kent and East Sussex for a while, before the severe weather pushed north eastwards, through Kent and crossing the far east of the Thames Estuary into Suffolk. The roof of a bungalow was reportedly blown off by a lightning strike in Shotley, Suffolk (credit: Heart East Anglia News)
Lightning can be very dangerous. Although it is the less potent risks associated with thunderstorms (like flooding), when it does “strike” (pardon the pun), it can have more severe consequences. Although trees are the most common object hit by lightning in the UK, in the past there have been some injuries recorded by lightning.
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It is very unlikely to get struck by lightning in the UK. On average 3 people a year are killed by lightning in the UK, 66 times less than the global average (via BBC), however chances drastically increase during a thunderstorm, of course! Stay safe.