Lightning flashes occur in Canada about 2.7 million times a year, including about once every three seconds during the summer months. This is based on observations collected during the past five years from the Canadian lightning detection network. Lightning can be deadly. A lightning bolt can carry up to 100 million volts of electricity - a million times more powerful than household current. Each year in Canada, lightning strikes kill about half a dozen people, seriously injure about 70 others, and ignite some 4,000 forest fires. In a recent study, Environment Canada scientists identified several lightning hot spots across the country. See how often lightning strikes in your local area, check out our lightning safety tips and tune into our cross-Canada lightning detection network to see lightning as it happens.
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