NOAA Storm Events · 2025
Lightning
Direct deaths
20
3.2% of all recorded 2025 hazard deaths · 95 injuries
Reported property damage
$23M
+ $15,400 crop · NOAA estimate, not insured loss
Reach
37 states
283 events recorded
Read this as one year, not history. These are NOAA's 2025 figures — a single,
volatile year (a major event in another year would change them sharply). Deaths are NOAA
"direct" deaths only — indirect deaths (e.g. a heart attack while clearing storm debris) are excluded.
Where lightning took the most lives in 2025
Highest recorded direct-death toll by state. This reflects 2025 events, not a state's standing risk.
StateDeathsProperty damage
FLORIDA 4 $621,500
TEXAS 3 $7M
GEORGIA 2 $287,000
NORTH CAROLINA 2 $152,000
NEW JERSEY 2 $38,000
OKLAHOMA 2 —
MISSISSIPPI 1 $465,000
WISCONSIN 1 $165,000
KENTUCKY 1 $51,000
PUERTO RICO 1 $46,000
What these figures mean
- RECORDED — the death, injury, and damage counts are NOAA Storm Events records of 2025 events, summed across states.
- CONTEXT — one volatile year; direct deaths only; damage is NOAA's estimate, not insured loss. Past toll is not a forecast of your risk.
Also available: structured data (JSON-LD) · plain text
This is the past toll — not your risk
Where lightning killed people in 2025 is not where it will next, and a national count says nothing about your home. For your exposure, see your state and county risk profiles; for warnings, the National Weather Service. Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.