Go Back
  • For Business
  • |
  • Warnings
  • Data Suite
  • Newsletters
  • Advertising
  • Superior Accuracy™
Father's Day forecast: See where thunderstorms could impact outdoor plans. Chevron right

Columbus, OH

76°F
Location Chevron down
Location News Videos
Use Current Location
Recent

Columbus

Ohio

76°
No results found.
Try searching for a city, zip code or point of interest.
settings
Columbus, OH Weather
Today WinterCast Local {stormName} Tracker Hourly Daily Radar MinuteCast Monthly Air Quality Health & Activities

Around the Globe

Hurricane Tracker

Severe Weather

Radar & Maps

News

News & Features

Astronomy

Business

Climate

Health

Recreation

Sports

Travel

For Business

Warnings

Data Suite

Newsletters

Advertising

Superior Accuracy™

Video

Winter Center

AccuWeather Early Hurricane Center Top Stories Trending Today Astronomy Heat Climate Health Recreation In Memoriam Case Studies Blogs & Webinars

News / Weather News

What happens when the body is struck by lightning?

By Courtney Barrow, AccuWeather staff writer

Copied

If you're caught outside during a thunderstorm, here are some tips to stay safe.

Being struck by lightning can have a profound effect on the body but in other ways than you might think.

"Lots of things happen to the body [when struck by lightning]. It really depends how you're struck," said Dr. David Claypool, a staff physician at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

"What happens really depends on how much force you take, whether directly or indirectly," he said.

A direct lightning strike is when the bolt of lightning comes down from the sky directly into a person's body. An indirect strike occurs when the person catches the shock from a secondary source, like when standing under a tree or a pavilion.

Lightning getty

(Enrico Battistini/EyeEm/Getty Images)

Getty

The effects on the body can vary. Eyesight or hearing may be adversely affected, Claypool said, due to the loud clap of the thunder and the bright flash from the lightning. A person could be temporarily blinded or rupture an eardrum.

Additionally, the heart could go into cardiac arrest. If a person is unresponsive after being struck, it's urgent they get CPR immediately.

Often, the lightning can cause respiratory arrest, and the impacted person can have an oxygen-related injury from not breathing.

"So even if it doesn't injure you directly, it can have long-term effects from those injuries," he said.

Outside of internal injuries, the heat could cause serious burns through the body, the doctor said.

Some burns can look like Lichtenberg figures, or lines. Lichtenberg lines are long, intricate, wavy burns that can appear on someone temporarily after receiving a massive electric shock.

"They don't really stick around. They're these fernlike, superficial burns of the skin," said Claypool.

There could be long-lasting effects on the brain as well, including potential memory loss, seizures or muscle spasms.

"There's really nothing unique, long term, from lightning. You can have these things from any kind of brain injury," said Claypool.

Other long-term effects include potential cataracts in the eyes from the bright flash.

RELATED:

7 lightning safety tips if you’re caught outside during a thunderstorm
Lightning kills: Which outdoor activity ranks no. 1 for fatal strikes?

In Claypool's hospital, he said they see victims or injuries from lightning strikes every few years. The most common places people were hit by lightning strikes were out on the golf course or sailing enthusiasts out on the water.

NOAA has reported three lightning deaths so far in 2017 and 307 fatalities for the last 10 years.

To prevent being struck by lightning, people should seek shelter in an enclosed space immediately at the first sign of a thunderstorm. Inside is best, but cars are the next safest option. Standing under trees or tall pavilions is not considered safe.

<hr>

For more safety and preparedness tips, visit AccuWeather.com/Ready.

AccuWeather ready logo
Partner Module Enhancement
Report a Typo

Weather News

Weather News

Wildfire smoke to limit number of days with deep blue sky this summer

Jun. 12, 2025
Weather Forecasts

More storms, temperature swings ahead for the Northeast

Jun. 14, 2025
Weather News

Children swept away among at least 49 killed in South Africa flooding

Jun. 11, 2025
Show more Show less Chevron down

Topics

AccuWeather Early

Hurricane Center

Top Stories

Trending Today

Astronomy

Heat

Climate

Health

Recreation

In Memoriam

Case Studies

Blogs & Webinars

Top Stories

Weather News

How the Air India plane came crashing to earth

1 day ago

Severe Weather

Severe storms to focus over Plains through Father's Day weekend

7 hours ago

Weather Forecasts

More storms, temperature swings ahead for the Northeast

8 hours ago

Weather Forecasts

Father’s Day forecast: West to have best weather for outdoor activitie...

23 hours ago

Weather News

At least 8 dead in San Antonio after months of rain fell in hours

20 hours ago

More Stories

Featured Stories

Climate

If crucial ocean currents collapses, weather impact would be extreme

2 days ago

Weather News

No injuries after JetBlue plane rolls onto grass after landing

1 day ago

Astronomy

Accidental find in planetarium could shift understanding of solar syst...

3 days ago

Climate

New Zealand sued over ‘inadequate’ plan to reduce emissions

3 days ago

Weather News

New images reveal treasures aboard ‘holy grail’ shipwreck

2 days ago

AccuWeather Weather News What happens when the body is struck by lightning?
Company
Proven Superior Accuracy About AccuWeather Digital Advertising Careers Press Contact Us
Products & Services
For Business For Partners For Advertising AccuWeather APIs AccuWeather Connect RealFeel® and RealFeel Shade™ Personal Weather Stations
Apps & Downloads
iPhone App Android App See all Apps & Downloads
Subscription Services
AccuWeather Premium AccuWeather Professional
More
AccuWeather Ready Business Health Hurricane Leisure and Recreation Severe Weather Space and Astronomy Sports Travel Weather News Winter Center
Company
Proven Superior Accuracy About AccuWeather Digital Advertising Careers Press Contact Us
Products & Services
For Business For Partners For Advertising AccuWeather APIs AccuWeather Connect RealFeel® and RealFeel Shade™ Personal Weather Stations
Apps & Downloads
iPhone App Android App See all Apps & Downloads
Subscription Services
AccuWeather Premium AccuWeather Professional
More
AccuWeather Ready Business Health Hurricane Leisure and Recreation Severe Weather Space and Astronomy Sports Travel Weather News Winter Center
© 2025 AccuWeather, Inc. "AccuWeather" and sun design are registered trademarks of AccuWeather, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | About Your Privacy Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

Get AccuWeather alerts as they happen with our browser notifications.

Notifications Enabled

Thanks! We'll keep you informed.