Lightning adds a little sizzle to summer in Tampa Bay

If the prospect of spending some quality time in Florida has an appeal, this is the time of year to visit. Bottom line, in July and August Florida is at its worst and if you can survive and enjoy a stay in the summer you will be madly in love with the place come the winter.

Although the temperature today is nudging towards 90°F the sun has not shown the slightest inclination to appear. Instead oppressive cloud cover makes it feel as though nightfall is just an hour or so away, although it’s only noon.

Of course the humidity is fierce and a walk across a car park from the air conditioned car to an air conditioned restaurant or store leaves those unsightly patches of sweat under your arms. (The big question I have is why don’t the guys in CSI: Miami sweat? Weird eh.)

Thunderstorms roll through every couple of hours accompanied by thunder and lightning. We residents are all wary of lighting as Tampa Bay likes to think of itself as the ‘lightning capital’ of America and a few unlucky souls are sizzled every year.

The lightning reputation isn’t just folklore. According to the National Weather Service Florida leads the way in deaths, injuries and casualties caused by lightning and the Tampa Bay area is struck more than any other part of Florida.

Nearly 50 lightning bolts strike each square mile of Tampa Bay annually. “Only” about 10 Florida deaths are caused by lightning each year but there are lots of injuries.

There are lots of interesting factoids contained in the National Weather Service Tampa Bay Area Lightning Fact Sheet. For instance most people are struck in mid-afternoon between 3 and 4 pm. It doesn’t say why though.

And if you are indoors and want to stay safe use a cordless phone! Corded phones are the leading cause of indoor injuries. Who knew?

Local jokesters call umbrellas ‘lightning rods. Consequently many people just accept a drenching, which given the temperature, can be quite pleasant. Happy Days.