Top 3 lightning videos of 2024
The immense power of the worst thunderstorms of 2024 are illustrated in the most viral lightning videos of the year.
From lightning over volcanoes to lightning striking twice, AccuWeather’s Damien Lodes counts down some of the most shocking videos of the year.
As the year draws to a close, AccuWeather unveils the top three lightning videos that have mesmerized audiences around the globe. Featuring electrifying scenes from volcanic eruptions to strikes at iconic landmarks, these breathtaking displays of nature's raw power are guaranteed to captivate you.
#3: Electrifying eruption: Lightning in Guatemala
Kicking off our countdown is a breathtaking video from Guatemala, where a volcanic eruption produced an incredible lightning display. Volcanic eruptions are notorious for generating lightning, as the ash plume creates the perfect environment for electrical charges to peak. This natural spectacle, which also occurred in May 2024, highlights the raw power and beauty of Mother Nature.
#2: Flagpole explodes: When thunder roars, go indoors
Our second video serves as a crucial reminder of important safety measures during a thunderstorm with this footage emphasizing the importance of the saying, "When thunder roars, go indoors." Tall structures such as flagpoles and trees can act as perfect conductors for lightning strikes.
Fortunately, if the numbers as of Dec. 20 hold until the end of the year, 2024 will go down as the second-least number of lightning fatalities in the U.S. in the last 10 years, surpassed only by 2021. A total of 12 people were killed by lightning this year. In Florida, there were five people killed.
#1: Lightning strikes more than twice at Chicago's Willis Tower
The top spot goes to an astonishing video that dispels the common myth that lightning never strikes the same place twice. In reality, the Willis Tower in Chicago is the most frequently struck U.S. skyscraper, having been struck 250 times between 2015 and 2020. This video captures the iconic skyscraper being hit by multiple bolts, illustrating the frequency and unpredictability of lightning strikes. The Empire State Building in New York City is the number two-most-struck skyscraper.
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