Lightning Causes Many Fires in Colorado

Lightning averages 73 deaths and 300 injuries each year nationally. This is more than tornadoes and floods combined. In Colorado, lightning is considered the number one life-threatening weather hazard. With approximately 494,000 cloud-to-ground lightning flashes occurring in the state each year, Colorado currently ranks 11th for lightning fatalities in the United States.

A bolt of lightning has a temperature of 50,000° F. The super heating of the air as the charge passes through it explodes the hydrogen atoms and creates thunder. The average flash of lightning could light a 100-watt light bulb for more than three months.

It should be no surprise then that the majority of Colorado’s wildfires are ignited by lightning.

However, lightning plays a critical role in the natural cycle of forests by helping generate new growth. Areas that are burned by lightning-triggered fires are cleared of dead trees so that seedlings for new trees have the space and soil to take root. Some trees are so adapted to fire that they rely upon it to regenerate new stands. Pine cones of some species will not open and release the seed until exposed to the heat of fire. Given these adaptations to fire, recovery of many trees and plants can occur quite rapidly.

Lightning Safety Awareness Week
June 22-28, 2003

The nation will celebrate its third annual National Lightning Safety Awareness Week June 22-28, 2003.
Lightning Safety Week is held the last full week of June each year. Next year the event will be from June 20 to 26, 2004. Please visit the multimedia page at http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/week.htm to see some of the highlights of the campaign.

Question:
Approximately 494,000 cloud to ground (CG) lightning flashes occur in Colorado each year. Which county is estimated to experience the most number of cloud to ground lightning flashes per year?

Answer:
Please visit the Colorado LTAP website for the answer and a map illustrating the number of flashes per county.

Many interesting lightning facts and personal safety guidelines can be found at http://home.fuse.net/engineering/Lightningmenu.htm